No deal yet for Taipei office in Estonia, says MOFA

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on Sunday (Nov. 5) that it has not yet reached an agreement with Estonia to establish an economic or cultural representative office named after Taipei in the Baltic nation.

This statement from MOFA followed remarks made by Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on Friday. Tsahkna said that his government is prepared to "accept the establishment of a non-diplomatic economic or cultural representation of Taipei" in Tallinn, Estonia's capital.

During a phone interview, MOFA’s Deputy Spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei emphasized, "Discussions with the Estonian government continue, but no consensus has been reached."

Hsiao also touched on Foreign Minister Joseph Wu's forthcoming trip to Estonia on Nov. 8. He noted, "The ministry will clarify details about Minister Wu’s visit to Estonia when the time is right."

Li Da-jung, the director of the Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies at Tamkang University, weighed in on the matter. 

He observed, "We faced varied opinions in our legislature when setting up in Lithuania. I believe the situation in Estonia mirrors that. A consistent standard for establishing offices is essential."

Should an office be successfully inaugurated, all three Baltic Sea countries will host Taiwan representative offices, further strengthening ties between Taiwan and Europe.