Lithuania mulls leaving China's 17+1 forum, expanding links with Taiwan

After the Lithuanian parliament agreed to leave China’s 17+1 format, the country’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said the cooperation programme between Beijing and Eastern Europe has brought Lithuania “almost no benefits”.

“I am not saying that we are leaving and it’s the end, but we should really consider what is the useful way of building a relationship with China,” Landsbergis told LRT.lt.

“Lithuania needs to see what is the best way for Lithuania’s interests to be reflected,” the minister said. “The 17+1 format [...] is not useful for Europe, it is dividing Europe, because some countries have a different opinion on China than others.”

In February, Lithuania’s parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs agreed that the country should leave China’s 17+1 format. According to the committee's chairman, Žygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania should focus on working with democratic countries in the region.

Žygimantas Pavilionis / E. Genys/LRT

“China has aims to take over strategic infrastructure in various countries, [...] why should we embroil ourselves in these risks?” Pavilionis previously told LRT.lt.

Estonia, Latvia, and several other countries in Eastern Europe are also thinking to take similar steps, he said, adding that Lithuania plans to expand relations with Taiwan by opening an economic representation in the country.

Besides the Baltic states, the 17+1 format launched in 2012 also includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Beijing has pledged to invest in local infrastructure, including ports, roads and industries that have failed to attract Western capital, making the region China’s gateway to Europe.

Flags of Russia and China / AP

However, some countries have complained of Beijing failing to live up to its investment promises, as well as the political costs of dealing with China, since deepening cooperaton with Beijing may harm relations with the United States, which is seen as the main security guarantor in the region.

The Baltic states have also snubbed a recent 17+1 summit, which was presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping, by sending ministers instead of the heads of state.