Page 9 - NO.149銀行家雜誌

立陶宛是新興民主國家，目前的政府正努力改善對台關係，但有部分民眾仍感到猶豫。（圖／達志影像）

但從這個事件能看出，台灣與立陶宛關 家，但兩國相似之處也僅限於此，真要建立穩
係背後的基礎目前還不夠厚實。之前蔡政府的 固關係，還是得從頭開始打地基。

新南向政策所針對的東南亞國家，跟台灣多少 目前的立陶宛政府似乎相當努力改善對
有一些相同的歷史經歷和文化習慣，但立陶宛 台關係， 3月底還申請要在台北設立駐台經貿
兩者都沒有。此外，立陶宛境內沒有大量台灣 代表處；但另一個政府部門卻希望跟中國重
人，台灣也沒有很多立陶宛人。 修舊好。事實上，在立陶宛外交部允許台灣

立陶宛的確跟台灣一樣都是新興民主國 以「台灣」為名設立代表處之後，立陶宛總

appeared petty and maladroit, while Taiwan came countries that form the cornerstone of the Tsai

across as savvy. For their part, Taiwan’s people administration’s New Southbound Policy, Lithuania
responded to the government’s call to support has no historic or cultural ties with Taiwan. There
Lithuania by purchasing the rum. 1,800 bottles is neither a significant overseas Taiwanese
available for pre-order sold out in 15 minutes while population in Lithuania, nor a large community of

shoppers quickly snatched up another batch of 1,200 Lithuanians in Taiwan.
in a retail Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp. store. To be sure, Lithuania and Taiwan have the
Yet beyond the positive publicity, it is unclear shared experience of being young democracies
what else Taiwan achieved. Rum is not a popular living in the face of authoritarian giants but that
spirit in Taiwan, so once the novelty wears off, the is where their similarities end. That means the

market opportunity for Lithuania is limited. bilateral relationship needs to be constructed from
This speaks to a deeper problem: The Taiwan- the ground up.
Lithuania bilateral relationship does not yet rest Though the current Lithuanian government
on firm foundations. Unlike Southeast Asian seems committed to its relationship with Taiwan

台灣銀行家2022.5月號 9

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