Based on the poll, 58% of Lithuanians believe that the decision to rename the Taiwanese Representative Office into Taipei Representative Office might help improve relations with China. Of them, 22% fully support the idea and 36% somewhat to support it.
Meanwhile, a quarter of respondents oppose the idea and a fifth did not have an opinion on the matter.
According to the poll, the idea is often opposed by urban residents, people with university degrees and those with the highest income.
Among supporters of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) opinions were split evenly – 45% support the move, 45% oppose it and 10% do not have an opinion.
The decision to rename the office is mostly supported by voters of the Farmers and Greens party (LVŽS) (73% in favour and 17% against), the Social Democratic Party (71% in favour and 10% against), the Nemunas Dawn party (62%, 22%), the Liberal Movement (62%, 24%) and Democrats For Lithuania (59%, 26%).
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė mentioned some time ago that the office might be renamed.
Relationships between Lithuania and China deteriorated when the Taiwanese Representative Office was opened in Vilnius at the end of 2021. Beijing objected to the use of the name of Taiwan instead of Taipei, which it regards to be its breakaway office. Beijing accused Lithuania of violating the „one China“ policy and applied diplomatic and economic pressure.