Lithuania expels Chinese diplomats, Beijing vows retaliation
Last week, Lithuanian authorities announced that they had declared three Chinese diplomats persona non grata, stating that their actions violated the Vienna Convention. Beijing responded with a stern diplomatic note.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Lithuanian government's "wanton and provocative actions" on Monday. This decision, announced last week, has escalated tensions between the two nations.
An unnamed representative from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Vilnius of unjustifiably classifying three diplomatic personnel with the rank of charge d'affaires in Lithuania as "persona non grata" and demanded their departure within a specified timeframe.
Beijing protests
On Friday, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "the decision was made based on information provided by the responsible authorities."
Relations between Lithuania and China deteriorated in 2021 following the opening of a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius. In response, Beijing suspended diplomatic relations with Vilnius, recalled its ambassador, and initiated a blockade of economic exchanges.
According to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson: "Lithuania has seriously violated the one-China principle on the Taiwan issue and betrayed the political commitments made in the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which has led to serious difficulties in China-Lithuania relations."
Beijing's authorities added that they reserve the right to take remedial actions against the Lithuanian side if it does not cease "undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
