Chinese interference in this year’s elections in EU and NATO member Lithuania “definitely cannot be ruled out” due to Lithuanian support for Taiwan, the chief of Lithuania’s counter-intelligence said on Thursday.
China downgraded ties with Lithuania and pressured multinationals to sever links with the Baltic nation of 2.8 million people after it allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy there in late 2021.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has stepped up pressure on countries to downgrade or sever their relations with Taiwan, even non-official ones.
Photo: Reuters
Lithuania, like most of the world, acknowledges that China takes the position there is “one China.” It does not have full relations with Taiwan, which has official diplomatic relations with just 12 UN member countries.
The EU launched a challenge at the WTO in January 2022, accusing China of discriminatory trade practices against Lithuania. The challenge was suspended in January this year.
“I would say that the scenario of attempting to influence elections definitely cannot be ruled out,” Lithuanian State Security Department Director Darius Jauniskis said, adding that he is “mostly referring to China.”
The Lithuanian parliament government coalition pledged to support “those fighting for freedom in Taiwan” before taking office in 2020, and its Taiwanese policy was broadly supported by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
Nauseda is facing an election in May and the parliamentary elections are to be held in October.
“We detect a high interest in the elections, both presidential and parliamentary, because they are highly important to China due to our Taiwanese policy,” Jauniskis said.
The Chinese diplomatic representation in Lithuania did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China increased its spying efforts in Lithuania last year, Lithuania’s intelligence agencies said on Thursday in an annual assessment of threats.
Cyber actors “affiliated with China” have been found regularly probing Lithuanian government institutions for vulnerabilities “with the aim of penetrating their networks,” they said.
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