Vilnius: Former President Tsai Ing-wen expressed her gratitude towards Lithuania for its support to Taiwan during a reception organized by the Lithuania-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group. On her first visit to the Baltic state, Tsai emphasized the partnership between Taiwan and Lithuania in defending democracy.

According to Focus Taiwan, Tsai highlighted the shared experiences of Taiwan and Lithuania, both neighboring authoritarian countries, China and Russia, respectively. She noted that despite external threats, both nations have thrived economically and emerged as defenders of democratic values.

Tsai praised the Baltic state for exemplifying how small countries can influence global affairs through principles and courage. The warming relations between Taipei and Vilnius have faced strong opposition from China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory. The rift began in 2021 when Taiwan's representative office in Vilnius included "Taiwanese" in its name, prompting Beijing to take diplomatic and economic actions against Lithuania.

Despite restoring diplomatic ties with China in December 2024, Lithuania has refused to change the name of Taiwan's representative office. During her visit, Tsai explored collaborations such as the Taiwanese-funded LeaFood vertical farming company and is scheduled to speak at Vilnius University and meet former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite.

Tsai's European trip, which includes a visit to Denmark for the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, marks her second visit to Europe since leaving office last May. Previously, she toured the Czech Republic, France, and Belgium in October 2024.