Vilnius Against the background of the trade conflict between the Baltic EU country and China, Lithuania and Taiwan have started a joint project. The Taiwanese-Lithuanian Center for Semiconductors and Materials Sciences opened in Vilnius on Friday. This was announced by the Taiwanese representation in Lithuania. The first project is the development of a new kind of laser, from which precision mechanical engineering and the semiconductor industry should benefit.
Taiwan set up a $1 billion loan fund for joint economic projects with Lithuania in January. Taipei had also announced a $200 million investment fund to invest in the industry of the Baltic EU country.
Tensions have arisen between Lithuania and China in recent months. Beijing downgraded its diplomatic ties with the Baltic state after it allowed Taiwan to open a representative office under its own name in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. China does not see democratic Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949, as an independent state and is trying to isolate it internationally.
According to Lithuanian sources, China is also flexing its economic muscles in the dispute. Because of the trade restrictions that Beijing has already imposed on Lithuania, the EU initiated proceedings against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
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In the dispute, the German economy in Lithuania was caught between the fronts. The automotive supplier Continental is active there. Despite the tensions, the Dax group from Hanover wants to stick to its investment plans in the Baltic state, as the head of the local branch of the business newspaper “Verslo zinios” said.
More: WTO proceedings against China: Beijing has gambled in the case of Lithuania