Taiwan dispute: train service to Lithuania suspended

The Ministry of Transport has suspended all rail freight traffic to Lithuania, according to reports from the South China Morning Post, over the dispute of Taiwan’s status: the Baltic country had allowed the government of Taipei to open a „Taiwan representative office“ in the capital. This caused great outrage in Beijing (as reported by China.Table) and authorities are now apparently looking for ways to show their displeasure. The „Land Silk Road“ is a prestige project of Beijing; a crucial part is freight train connections to Europe. Germany, for example, only hosts a „Taipei Representative Office“ with no mention of the nation’s name in the official title. This makes a „Taiwanese representation“ in the EU a visible diplomatic upgrade. fin