The government-owned Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor (TTL) has bought 20,400 bottles of Lithuanian rum after learning that the shipment was going to be blocked by Chinese authorities.

According to a statement quoted by South China Morning Post, the company said, “TTL stood up at the right time, purchased the rum and brought it to Taiwan.”

It further added, “Lithuania supports us and we support Lithuania – TTL calls for a toast to that.”

According to South China Morning Post, Taiwan’s finance ministry and the de facto ambassador to Lithuania, Eric Huang had learned China was going to reject the shipment and therefore they informed TTL.

However, TTL and the producer of the dark rum, MV Group Productions, have not responded to the claims. 

There is an ongoing diplomatic dispute between Lithuania and China due to which Lithuania has been hit with trade and other restrictions. In a response to these restrictions, the Lithuanian government announced an aid package of £108.5m to its companies affected by China’s decision to avert a big economic hit to its local market.

Tensions between both the countries sparked when Lithuania announced that it would establish mutual diplomatic posts with Taiwan.

Last week, according to the US State Department, the US, the UK, France and Germany have expressed their support to Lithuania against China “escalating political pressure and economic coercion.”

Image credit: EPA