Principles and Pragmatism: Understanding Lithuania’s and the Czech Republic’s Value-Based Engagement with Taiwan

Taiwan (the Republic of China, ROC) is a contested political entity seeking external legitimacy as a member of the international community. The leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) maintains that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and has repeatedly stated the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will not tolerate Taiwanese independence. Lithuania and the Czech Republic have recently drawn attention for their increasing engagement with Taiwan in ways that have provoked punitive reactions from Beijing. The implicit shift toward a pro-Taiwanese stance through the naming of the representative office in Lithuania and the facilitation of official contacts in the Czech Republic has been perceived by Beijing as undermining its claims of legitimacy over Taiwan. This outspoken support for Taiwan is particularly significant in a context where the broader international community appears to defer to China and effectively grant it a veto over any changes to Taiwan’s global status. This paper raises questions about what has motivated these governments to adopt a divergent policy stance that defies China’s pressure, why China responds differently to similar actions, and whether deviating from the dominant trend incurs costs that they are willing to bear. While domestic political dynamics have shaped Lithuania’s stance and a normative affinity and sympathy have influenced Czech policy, both countries have continued to balance principled and pragmatic approaches as they resist external pressure from China. Despite the risks, their value-based engagement with Taiwan may prove difficult to reverse.