Taiwan buys 20,000 Lithuanian rum bottles after China applauds International Trade

Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp. says it bought alcohol after learning that Chinese customs had blocked imports.

A Taiwanese company has bought 20,400 bottles of Lithuanian rum and refused to enter the country amid diplomatic tensions to show support for the Baltic nation, according to the South China Morning Post.

Taiwan State Tobacco and Liquor Corp. said it bought the alcohol last month from MV Group Production after learning that it was being denied permission to import Chinese customs, the newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“TTL got up at the right time, bought rum and brought it to Taiwan,” the company said in a statement, adding that the liquor would be sold in the market. “Lithuania supports us and we support Lithuania – TTL demands a toast for that.”

The General Administration of Customs of China did not immediately respond to the request for faxed comments.

China has been angry with Lithuania since Taiwan opened a delegation office in the Baltic national capital, Vilnius, in November.

‘Doomed to waste’

The European Union later introduced Lithuania’s claim that China had imposed “unannounced sanctions” on its products to the World Trade Organization. China has denied that Lithuania’s exports are being blocked.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a regular press conference in Beijing that he was unaware of the section, adding: