China has restricted diplomatic representation with Lithuania over disputes over Taiwan
Beijing made the decision in response to the opening of a Taiwanese representation in Vilnius this week.
This means that the ambassadors of China and Lithuania will no longer work in Vilnius and Beijing, and the diplomatic missions will be headed by lower-ranking diplomats – the trustees.
“The Chinese government has curtailed diplomatic relations between the two countries (…) to protect its sovereignty and basic norms in international relations,” the ministry said in a statement issued on Sunday morning.
“The Lithuanian government must accept all the consequences,” it said.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Lithuania’s actions set a “bad precedent in the international space”.
Regrets the Chinese decision
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Sunday expressed regret over China’s decision to officially reduce diplomatic representation and stressed that Lithuania has the right to expand relations with Taiwan.
China has limited diplomatic representation with Lithuania to affidavits in response to the opening of a Taiwanese mission in Vilnius this week.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania regrets China’s decision not to return the ambassador and to change the diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania to the level of a temporary trustee,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Lithuania reaffirms its adherence to Vienna’s policy, but at the same time has the right to expand China’s cooperation with Taiwan and to accept and establish non-diplomatic missions to ensure the development of such relations as many other countries,” it is written.
“The reception of the Taiwanese representation in Lithuania is based on economic interests,” the ministry said.
A few months ago, China had already recalled its ambassador to Lithuania and demanded that Lithuania exercise that right. Ambassador Diana Mickevičienė returned to Vilnius for consultations in early September.
China is angry at Lithuania’s decision to allow the Taiwanese mission to operate in the name using the island’s name, as Beijing sees Taiwan’s attempts to act as the state needs.
Elsewhere in the world, the Taiwanese mission on behalf of the capital, Taipei, has not acted to treat Taiwan as a separate state, as long as there is an international consensus that such a name does not contradict the “one China” policy.
Lithuanian businessmen say that the differences between Vilnius and Beijing have made trade with this Asian country much more difficult.
Lithuania has also withdrawn from the format of cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries and China 17 + 1, and has strengthened relations with other countries in the Far East in recent years.
It is strictly forbidden for DELFI to publish information on other websites, in the media or elsewhere, or to distribute our material in any form without consent, and if consent has been obtained, DELFI must be cited as the source.