Relations between Beijing and Vilnius are now below the level of ambassadors, as the Baltic nation has allowed Taiwan to open a representative office.
The Lithuanian ambassador was expelled earlier, while China also withdrew its own ambassador from Lithuania. The Foreign Ministry said relations would deteriorate further.
Lithuania’s move reflects growing government interest in expanding ties with Taiwan, a key trading partner, at a time when Beijing has irritated its neighbors and Western governments with an increasingly strong foreign and military presence. policy.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused Lithuania of “undermining Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity” and called on the Lithuanian government to “correct the mistakes immediately.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters on a daily basis that the EU member state should not “underestimate the strong determination, will and ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
It is noted that Beijing refuses to have formal relations with governments that recognize Taiwan as a sovereign country. It has already convinced many countries, most of them small and poor in Africa and Latin America, to change their recognition on the mainland.
Many governments, including the United States and Japan, have formal diplomatic ties with Beijing, while maintaining extensive trade ties with Taiwan. Many maintain relations with the island’s democratically elected government through commercial offices that operate as informal embassies.
Lithuania broke the diplomatic habit by agreeing that Taiwan’s office in Vilnius would be named Taiwan instead of Chinese Taipei, a term used by other countries to avoid Beijing’s attack.
Lithuania has said it plans to open a representative office in Taiwan and regrets China’s decision to downgrade relations.
The country’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Lithuania had respected Beijing’s policy towards Taiwan, but also had the right to expand its ties with the island.
Euronews
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
.
