China Downgrades Lithuania Ties in Anger at New Taiwan Office
- Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry describes move as ‘rude and petty’
- Global Times warns Beijing could sever ties with Lithuania
The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania.
Photographer: Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images
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China downgraded ties with Lithuania to the level of charge d’affaires and is prepared to end diplomatic relations with the Baltic nation if necessary, escalating tensions after Taiwan opened a diplomatic office there last week.
Lithuania is “walking back on political promises” made in a communique for establishing diplomatic links with China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday. Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of the Communist Party’s Global Times newspaper, later wrote a message suggesting China would sever ties if Lithuania takes “further destructive action” on issues involving Taiwan.