Milvi’s summer song

Baton in hand, the conductor tried to focus attention of the assembled children’s choir. It was a Saturday. Visiting day for parents. A blue sky perfect kind of summer day. The camp kids and their counselors were garbed in white T’s, the formal camp uniform. Milvi, the conductor and assistant camp director, had a lifelong passion for music. And discipline. She insisted they all be appropriately attired on visiting day. Trying to impart her appreciation of music to her charges was a difficult task considering their little brains were thinking ahead to candy and other treats the parents came loaded with on visiting day. Milvi knew it was an uphill battle but choir practice and performance were critical slots in her list of camp activities. The children did not understand its importance yet, but this was Milvi’s little song festival every Saturday. Producer, director, stage manager. They were hats she proudly wore. And so she flicked her baton. A sweet wave of lyrical melodies from her homeland filled the summer air.

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China tries to force Lithuania over Taiwan.

Beijing has recalled its ambassador from Lithuania and asked Vilnius to do the same, over plans by the European country and Taiwan to establish reciprocal diplomatic offices.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs accused Lithuania of disregarding “China’s repeated representations and articulation of potential consequences” in agreeing to such a move with Taiwan.

“The decision brazenly violates the spirit of the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania and severely undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry said.

Only 15 countries recognise Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Lithuania does not yet have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it maintains increasingly friendly relations with Taipei. Vilnius has been an increasingly vocal critic of China’s actions towards Taiwan, as well as in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, has withdrawn from China-led multilateral groups and has announced vaccine donations to Taiwan.

On 20 July, the Taiwanese foreign minister, Joseph Wu, announced Taiwan and Lithuania would establish respective representative offices to enhance “economic and trade exchanges, cooperation in various fields, as well as the friendships between people”. It was expected the offices would be open by the end of the year. (Helen Davidson, The Guardian)

Good for Lithuania! It is reassuring and hopeful when a tiny nation like Lithuania, itself subject of historical oppression by imperialist powers, decides to carve an independent path free of control from other nations. Mind you, they will always be conscious of not making too many moves that poke the bear next door. But they understand that fighting back against oppression and injustice must be vocal and in plain sight. It does no good to have parlour conversations about things that impact lives and peoples freedoms. China is starting to feel the heat. The way China is wielding its economic and political power throughout the world, is finding more pushback from free nations. Bravo Lithuania!

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