Lithuania’s vice-chancellor and National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) head Vilmantas Vitkauskas is leading a Foreign Information Manipulation Interference (FIMI) delegation in Taiwan alongside Communication and Cultural Diplomacy Department Acting Director Vilijus Samuila. Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister François Wu (吳志中) welcomed the delegation on Tuesday.

Wu said Taiwan and Lithuania’s friendship is rooted in a foundation of mutual trust, reflected in the establishment of offices in one another’s countries. He highlighted Taiwan’s rich experience in combating disinformation, and expressed the hope that cooperation could be expanded to counter authoritarian information manipulation.

Vitkauskas expressed his willingness to actively promote Taiwan-Lithuania relations, stressing the importance of how democratic partners respond in the face of authoritarian expansion. He said he looks forward to the new U.S. administration bringing changes to the global landscape.

The Foreign Ministry issued a press release this Thursday, stating that Taiwan and Lithuania are both frontline democratic countries that have been severely affected by disinformation activities by foreign entities in an attempt to manipulate public opinion. The ministry underscored how both states would benefit from exchanges and cooperation through FIMI, further building democratic resilience.