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Strategies & Market Trends : 2026 TeoTwawKi ... 2032 Darkest Interregnum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (182598)	1/12/2022 5:54:22 PM
From: TobagoJack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217942

In the meantime, perhaps an oops, that neo-people in Lithuania volunteered to be served up as proxy and perhaps shall now be left hanging to swing in the wind. Note, taking sides in a civil war, and acting against the best-interest of large customer might not be a winning idea, a surprise. (yes, shall add - s -) The vigorous response includes logistic issues on all parts manufactured in Lithuania meant for further assembly by German industrial companies' factories in China. Nothing official, and no fanfare rah rah news announcements. The boxes simply are not getting through. Am guessing Vilnius should not count on China support at the UN Security Council as Lithuania in effect de-recognised Beijing in favour of Taipei. The governing authorities might have been pressured or bribed to act against the interest of the people. Who knows, except once the opposition party(ies) take over and investigate the current rulers in Vilnius. A guess. Endurance war continues. bloomberg.com The World Can’t Let Lithuania Stand Alone: Opinion Bloomberg Opinion senior executive editor David Shipley presents an editorial arguing that the international community must defend Lithuania from China’s economic pressure campaign. scmp.com Lithuanians overwhelmingly oppose Vilnius’ policy on China, poll shows - Just 13 per cent of Lithuanians support Vilnius’ hardline policy toward China, according to a government poll that adds to the pressure mounting on its foreign ministry. - In a survey conducted by a private company on behalf of the ministry, just 1 per cent of respondents rated Lithuania’s “value-based” policy towards China “very positively”, with 12 per cent viewing it “positively”. Conversely, 21 per cent said they felt “very negatively” and 37 per cent “negatively” about a policy that has seen Vilnius bolster its ties with Taiwan, the self-governed island that Beijing views as a renegade province. The survey was conducted last month, around the time that China’s unofficial economic retaliation for the policy first became clear. The survey results were first reported by the local online news portal 15 Minutes. The results come after Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda last week said that the country had made “a mistake” in welcoming a diplomatic centre to Vilnius opened under the title of Taiwanese Representative Office. Typically, such de facto embassies in other countries are known as Taipei Representative Offices. China claims that title breached the European Union’s adherence to the One China policy, which recognises the mainland as the only sovereign Chinese state. Both Lithuania and the EU strenuously deny this. Lithuanian exporters subsequently found themselves frozen out of China’s giant consumer market, in an unofficial blockade that has sparked an EU investigation into whether China is in breach of World Trade Organization rules. Now, with public opinion seemingly against the strategy and opposition figures demanding the Taiwan office be renamed, the government – particularly the foreign ministry led by Gabrielius Landsbergis – is feeling the heat. “This has escalated much more than expected. We didn’t know that China would react so vigorously, but now we have to deal with the consequences,” said Dovile Jakniunaite, head of the University of Vilnius’ international relations department. She added that the poll was “taken in a totally negative media environment” on the topic, but that even so, it was “not promising for our government”. A ministry source said that they would “analyse the results thoroughly” but that there was no chance of changing course or renaming the office under the current administration. “Such a discussion would be pointless. It is not about the name. China’s ultimate goal is to close the Taiwanese office in Vilnius. That is how we see it,” said the source. Smelling blood and sensing opportunity, opposition politicians have demanded the government perform an about-turn and repair ties with Beijing. In a Facebook post, the opposition party Farmers and Green Union criticised the “unprofessional and irrational” opening of the office, warning of the “catastrophic impact” on business. “It is proposed to consider the possibility of normalising relations with the People’s Republic of China through parliamentary democracy,” read the post, which demanded that the issue be managed by parliamentary committees. Still, the coalition government under Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte has tried to present a united front. Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, the speaker of the parliament, known as the Seimas, told reporters on Tuesday that the government previously had consensus on a raft of China policies. “Withdrawal from the 17 + 1 format with China, discussions and statements, resolutions on the Uygur genocide, which we adopted in the Seimas with the participation and initiative of the opposition – our line was clear enough and now, yes, Lithuania is under pressure.” Landsbergis is expected to raise the Taiwan office issue with counterparts at an informal meeting of the EU’s top diplomats in Brest, France, on Friday. Germany’s minister for economy and climate protection, Franziska Brantner, visited Lithuania this week to offer support and solidarity, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has raised the issue with several European counterparts in recent days. The Taiwanese government, meanwhile, continued a charm offensive this week, announcing a US$1 billion credit programme to finance joint projects between companies from the two countries. Kung Ming-hsin, Taiwan’s national development minister, said the funds would focus on semiconductors, biotechnology, satellites, finance and scientific research.

To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (182598)	1/13/2022 2:17:06 AM
From: TobagoJack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217942

quite interesting the miscalculations lrt.lt Lithuania’s FM failed to anticipate China’s full retaliation over Taiwan Before deepening ties with Taiwan, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry considered possible retaliation from China. But nobody expected that Beijing would go after Lithuania’s trading partners in Europe, Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomenas has said. According to him, Lithuania expected deterioration in bilateral relations with China and minor losses for Lithuanian businesses after a Taiwanese representative office was opened in Vilnius. “The risk assessment was based on our bilateral economic relations, ie, exports and imports from China that were not significant and were not likely to cause major economic losses,” Adomenas told LRT TV. But one possible risk was overlooked. “China is responding not only bilaterally, but has also imposed sanctions on the EU single market. This is the new unforeseen element that could not have been predicted in the light of historical developments,” the deputy minister said. Mantas Adomenas / D. Umbrasas/LRT Beijing has reportedly been pressuring international companies trading with China to drop Lithuanian suppliers. Read more: China pressures Germany’s car parts giant Continental to give up Lithuanian components – media According to economist Aleksandr Izgorodin, Lithuania’s direct exports to China are not significant, accounting for only 1 percent of the country’s GDP. But losses could be much greater if Beijing goes after Lithuania’s partners. “If China continues to put pressure on Western European and Scandinavian companies not to buy certain services or components from Lithuania, the impact will be significant,” Izgorodin said. “[This is because] 80 to 90 percent of Lithuanian exports are based on contractual manufacturing exports to other EU countries,” the economist added. The port of Hong Kong (associative image) / AP Such Chinese pressure on European companies could also negatively affect the investment climate in Lithuania, according to Rimantas Rudzkis, a professor at Vilnius University (VU). “Bearing in mind that big global companies want to enter the Chinese market, which is currently biggest in the world, it immediately makes Lithuania a country of high risk,” he said. According to Adomenas, the foreign ministry hopes for international organisations’ involvement in mediating Lithuania’s conflict with China. “The ministry has immediately contacted the European Commission, which is responsible for implementing the EU's trade policy,” the deputy foreign minister said. “We are also talking to all EU governments to use the available EU instruments to resolve the issue, including by taking the case to the WTO.”

To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (182598)	1/13/2022 2:19:07 AM
From: TobagoJack	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 217942

no more door handles from Lithuania, I am guessing, or no more BMWs in China let's see how the weighing goes I wonder how the EU is going to decide bloomberg.com BMW Hits Record China Sales on Luxury Demand, EV Push Amid Chip Shortage - Bloomberg 13 January 2022, 11:35 GMT+8 BMW AG posted record annual sales in China as demand for luxury cars and the automaker’s push into electric vehicles helped overcome challenges posed by the global chip shortage and coronavirus outbreaks. The German automaker delivered more than 846,000 BMW and Mini cars in 2021 with its Chinese partners, up 9% from the previous year, it said in a statement Thursday. Sales of new-energy vehicles surged 70% to around 48,000 units. The figures are reflective of the broader auto market. While total sales rose 4.5% last year for the first annual gain since 2018, deliveries of new-energy vehicles, including electric cars, surged 169% to 2.99 million units, China Passenger Car Association data released Tuesday showed. The PCA forecast NEV sales will hit 5.5 million this year. Read more: China Auto Sales Rebound Driven by Surge in Electric Cars BMW aims to bring seven new energy models to the Chinese market this year, including the locally produced iX and iX3. The company’s record deliveries shows how premium brands have been more resilient to the chip shortage and supply chain pressures. Volkswagen AG’s Porsche, Bentley, and Lamborghini marques all set annual sales records in China last year, while its main VW brand, including Jetta, posted a 15% decline. Read more: VW Bets on EVs for China Growth as Chip Shortage Hits Sales BMW is set to increase its stake in its joint-venture with local partner Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. to 75% from 50% after the Chinese government removed the cap that has for decades restricted global brands’ access to the world’s largest car market. Globally, BMW beat longtime rival Mercedes-Benz to the luxury-car sales crown for the first time since 2015, delivering 2.2 million vehicles last year after better navigating the semiconductor shortage. — With assistance by Charlie Zhu, and Chunying Zhang

To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (182598)	1/13/2022 2:21:52 AM
From: TobagoJack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217942

Money everywhere because wars cost money bloomberg.com Lithuania Mulls Aid for Companies Hit by Dispute With China Government considering aid package worth 130 million euros China says Lithunia should allign its China policy with EU Ott Tammik30 December 2021, 21:17 GMT+8 The Lithuanian government is considering an aid package worth 130 million euros ($147m) to support businesses impacted by the Baltic country’s spat with China. An initial 6 million euros has been allocated to companies from the European Regional Development Fund due to “the geopolitical tensions and the problems businesses are facing in China today, especially exporting businesses,” Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste told the cabinet, BNS news service reported on Wednesday. Lithuania says China has applied “unannounced sanctions” on its companies after it allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius in November. With a population of 2.7 million, Lithuania has emerged as a vocal opponent of China’s policy toward Taiwan. The Office of the Charge d’Affaires of China in Lithuania accused the Baltic nation in a statement on Thursday of attempting to escalate the bilateral dispute to the EU level. “As a member of the EU, Lithuania should adopt a consensus stance with the EU on major diplomatic issues, instead of seeking EU solidarity and support after getting into trouble,” the office said in the statement.

To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (182598)	1/13/2022 2:23:23 AM
From: TobagoJack	Respond to of 217942

Money money everywhere because wars cost a lot of money ft.com Taiwan to support Lithuania with $200m fund after dispute with China Investment plan follows harsh measures taken by Beijing against the Baltic state January 6 2022 The container terminal at Klaipeda port, Lithuania. Building economic ties has been a big focus for Taipei since it started expanding relations with Lithuania last year © Valda Kalnina/EPA-EFETaiwan is setting up a $200m fund to invest in Lithuania and is aiming to take as many of the Baltic country’s goods banned by China as possible, as Taipei tries to reward Vilnius for its diplomatic support. Eric Huang, head of Taiwan’s representative office in Lithuania, said on Wednesday that it was hoping to make its first investment later this year with the money guaranteed by its national development fund. “It’s time for us to help with your difficulties,” Harry Ho-jen Tseng, Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister, told Lithuania. Vilnius last year agreed to let Taiwan open a representative office — a de facto embassy — in its own name, rather than under the name of its capital Taipei as many other European countries have done. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of China and tries to force other governments to treat it as such, has since unleashed a wave of diplomatic and economic punishments against Vilnius. Beijing withdrew its ambassador from Vilnius, banned Lithuanian imports and put pressure on foreign manufacturers to stop using Lithuanian components. The Baltic country was also forced to evacuate its remaining diplomats from China over fears for their safety. Whether Lithuania stands firm and whether it receives the full backing from other EU member states have become test cases for the effectiveness of China’s economic and political coercion tactics. Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nauseda recently reversed his earlier stance and said it had been a “ mistake” to let the representative office be in Taiwan’s name, not Taipei’s. He also complained the decision had not been co-ordinated with him by the government, led by Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, who he defeated in 2019’s presidential elections. Recommended The spat has led officials to fret that Lithuania’s message risked being diluted as the president represents the country at EU summits and often takes the lead on foreign policy issues. Simonyte said on Wednesday that she was “disappointed” with Nauseda’s comments and that he had endorsed the move for months since its announcement. Radvile Morkunaite-Mikuleniene, vice-chair of Lithuania’s parliament and deputy head of the governing Homeland Union party, told the Financial Times on Wednesday that the government was sticking to its guns and would not change the name of the representative office. “It is important for the international community to understand what is the position on foreign affairs. We are not withdrawing from our position,” she said. The US assured Lithuania of its support against economic coercion. On a call with Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Wednesday, Katherine Tai, the US trade representative, “emphasised the US commitment to working with the European Union and its member states to address coercive diplomatic and economic behaviour”, according to a readout from her office. Lithuania has been shocked by the strength of China’s reaction. Not only has it stopped Lithuanian imports, but it has also put pressure on other European manufacturers such as German car parts maker Continental not to use Lithuanian components in its Chinese operations. Building economic ties has been a big focus for Taipei since it started expanding relations with Lithuania last year. Kung Ming-hsin, minister of the National Development Council which oversees the national development fund, led a delegation to Lithuania in late October and said he expected the country to become a focal point of Taipei’s pivot to central and eastern Europe. But in the face of China’s punitive measures, Taipei feels compelled to make up for some of the economic damage Vilnius is suffering. “Originally, this had nothing to do with a competition between us and Beijing, and it should not be a zero-sum game,” said a senior Taiwanese government official. A senior Taiwanese foreign policy official said: “We want to ensure that China’s economic coercion against Lithuania will be offset by our effort in trade and investment.” State-owned Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation on Monday snapped up a shipment of 24,000 bottles of Lithuanian rum that had been rejected by Chinese customs. Huang said on Wednesday that Taiwan had taken 120 shipping containers of Lithuanian exports blocked by China. The Taiwanese representative said he expected the priority investment areas for the new fund to include semiconductors, lasers and biotechnology. Taiwan has previously also identified financial technology as a possible area of co-operation, and Vilnius has more regulated fintech companies than any other EU country.