China did not dare to sever diplomatic relations with Lithuania: it explained its decision
Chargé d’affaires (French), Chargé d’affaires, the lowest class of heads of diplomatic missions (diplomatic classes). The Chargé d’Affaires ai shall head the diplomatic mission in the absence of an ambassador or an authorized minister.
The Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Lithuania also explained in his speech that they do not object to business and cultural ties with Taiwan as long as they are not governmental.
Chinese diplomat: We call on the Lithuanian government to admit the mistake
Qu Baihua, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Lithuania, said on Wednesday that Lithuania was deaf to China’s request for a name for the Taiwanese mission and urged that the mistake be corrected.
“The name is a problem, we do not oppose business relations, but (…) Lithuania is deafening our request,” the diplomat told reporters at a press conference.
According to him, this issue has been discussed with Lithuanian representatives several times, but “no positive answer has been received” from the government representatives.
According to Q. Baihua, the opening of a representative office under this name violated the “one China” principle.
“We call on the Lithuanian government to acknowledge the mistake and not to underestimate the will and determination of the Chinese people to defend the country’s territorial integrity and national security,” said a spokesman for the embassy.
The diplomat said no country is able to offset the Chinese market, which is one of the largest in the world.
The Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Lithuania mentioned in 1991 Communication on the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
Professor Šarūnas Liekis of Vytautas Magnus University previously mentioned to Delfi that it reads as follows: The Government of the Republic of Lithuania undertakes not to establish or promote any official relations with Taiwan. “
From the Lithuanian side, the document was signed by the then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Gediminas Vagnorius Valdemaras Katkus. At that time, the Lithuanian state was headed by Vytautas Landsbergis.
The Chinese diplomat explained that the removal of the ambassador is already a rare step, which shows that China does not agree with your statement.
“T that you have the opportunity to review and change decisions,” Baihua said.
Asked what would happen if Lithuania did not change its decision, Qu Baihua initially said that “there would be nothing”, but when asked, bilateral relations would not improve.
The Chinese embassy did not allow TV journalists and portals to film and broadcast the press conference.
A Taiwanese representation was established in Vilnius
opened a Taiwanese representation in Vilnius for the first time.
Eric Huang has been appointed head of the Taipei office in Latvia.
The Taiwanese mission is presented as an office for the development of trade, economic and cultural relations, but it will also handle consular matters. The rulers emphasize that the mission does not have diplomatic status.
Lithuania’s decision to allow Taiwan’s representative office in the country to act on behalf of Taiwanese angers China, which is protesting against any attempts by Taiwan to act as the state needs.
Elsewhere in the world, the Taiwanese representation on behalf of the capital, Taipei, has established an international consensus that such a name does not contradict the “one China” policy of treating the Taiwanese island as a separate state.
In recent years, relations between Lithuania and China have steadily deteriorated. Lithuania has also withdrawn from the format of cooperation with China in Central and Eastern Europe 17 + 1.
A few months ago, China recalled its ambassador to the country and demanded that Lithuania provide that assistance. Ambassador Diana Mickevičienė returned to Vilnius for consultations in early September.
On Sunday, China announced that Beijing had officially lowered the requirements for diplomatic representation with Lithuania before dealing with the trustees.
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.
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