Taipei: Taiwan is still in discussions with Estonia regarding the “name and legal status” of establishing reciprocal representative offices in both countries, as announced by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung during a legislative session on Wednesday. Formal negotiations commenced in June following an amendment to Estonia’s Foreign Relations Act in April, which enabled the establishment of these offices.

According to Focus Taiwan, the ongoing discussions cover various issues, including the title of the representative offices, their legal status, and concerns related to diplomatic immunity and privileges. Minister Lin provided this update when asked about a report from Nikkei Asia that suggested Taiwan’s efforts to set up a mission in Estonia had encountered obstacles due to disagreements over the office name.

Taiwan aims to adopt a naming convention similar to its Lithuanian office, known as the “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania.” However, Estonia prefers the use of “Taipei” to avoid potential repercussions from China. In 2021, Beijing strongly opposed Lithuania’s decision to incorporate “Taiwanese” in the office name, interpreting it as a suggestion of Taiwan’s sovereignty. Consequently, China took several retaliatory actions, including recalling its ambassador from Vilnius and restricting Lithuanian exports.

Despite Lithuania’s attempts to mend diplomatic relations with China after a new government took office in December 2024, it has remained firm on retaining the name of Taiwan’s office in Vilnius. The ongoing talks between Taiwan and Estonia demonstrate the complexities and sensitivities involved in international diplomatic relations, especially concerning China’s stance on Taiwan.