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On Friday, China imposed sanctions on Lithuanian Deputy Transport Minister Agni Vacukvicut for a visit to Taiwan, the latest development in a diplomatic dispute between Beijing and the Baltic states over its support for Taipei.
Vaiciukeviciute arrived in Taiwan with a delegation on Aug. 7 for a five-day visit, as China launched an intensive military campaign to protest U.S. House Representative Nancy Pelosi’s visit to an autonomous island claimed by Beijing as its territory during the exercise.
“This visit tramples on the one-China principle, seriously interferes in China’s internal affairs, and undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement late Friday.
In retaliation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also suspended cooperation with Lithuania in the field of transportation.
“In response to the vile and provocative actions of Vachukvichut, the Chinese side has decided to impose sanctions on Vachukvicut, suspend all forms of communication with the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport, and suspend exchanges and cooperation with Lithuania in the field of international road transport,” the ministry said. said in a statement.
The visit of the Lithuanian minister to Taiwan is rare and high-profile.
The online newspaper “Taiwan News” reported: “Vachukvichut led an 11-member delegation of government officials and representatives of electric bus companies to visit Taiwan to deepen exchanges on smart and green transportation, 5G communications and electric buses. The team met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, senior government officials and business representatives.
Citing the “Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations”, China’s foreign ministry said last week that the Baltic states recognized the mainland government as “the sole legitimate government of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory”, adding that under the arrangement, Lithuania was obliged “to not establish an official relationship with Taiwan.” relationship or official contact”.
Relations between China and Lithuania plummeted last year when Lithuania, a country of about 2.8 million people, allowed Taiwan to set up a Taiwanese representative – a de facto embassy – in the capital Vilnius.
China retaliated by downgrading diplomatic relations with Lithuania.
It was the first time the island was allowed to identify itself in the European Union (EU) using a representative office in Taiwan instead of Taipei, a move that has angered China.
In February, China’s General Administration of Customs stopped imports of beef, dairy products and beer from Lithuania, citing a “lack of documentation” as the reason for the suspension, according to reports from Lithuania.
In August 2021, China asked Lithuania to recall its Beijing envoy and announced it would withdraw its own ambassador from the Baltic states in the same row.
With regard to sanctioning the Lithuanian minister, analysts told the state-run tabloid Global Times that by making this decision, “China has once again shown the world that it will not back down from provocations that trample on China – China’s principle by sanctioning Lithuanian officials, if Lithuania Continue to go the wrong way and you may face more consequences, including severing diplomatic relations.”
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