[ad_1]
“The situation in the United States is not one to point fingers and make irresponsible statements. We ask the US side to adhere to the three joint Sino-US communications on the principle of” one China “to support the political framework of Sino-US relations, “the Chinese embassy said in a statement on its website.
The statement was a response to a spokesman for the US State Department, Nedo Price, who posted on Twitter on Tuesday that the United States supports its ally Lithuania and condemns China for its recent retaliation, including the withdrawal of the Chinese ambassador from Vilnius and the demand that Lithuania call its Beijing ambassador for consultation. Price also emphasized that the United States was supporting its European partners in developing relations with Taiwan.
Earlier on Tuesday, China withdrew its ambassador in Vilnius due to Lithuania’s deepening ties with Taiwan and called for the removal of the Lithuanian ambassador in Beijing. The Chinese Foreign Ministry claims that such decision was motivated by the desire to open a Taiwanese representation in Lithuania.
Taiwan reported a few weeks ago on the establishment of a representative office in Lithuania, which would be established separately from China, and should start operating this summer. Lithuania should also open a sales office in Taiwan.
About 23 million. The population of Taiwan, officially known as the ROC, is recognized as a country only by 15 other states. Lithuania is not among them.
China seeks to isolate Taipei on the world stage and avoids using the word “Taiwan” in any case, so as not to give the island international legitimacy.
However, Taiwan actually maintains diplomatic relations with dozens of states through its missions in Taipei. The representative office established in Lithuania differs in that it will have the name of Taiwan.
Lithuania has also recently donated COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan, which has received a positive response from the local population.
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington said that Lithuania’s permission to open a Taiwanese representation and develop official relations with Taipei “seriously violates the spirit of communication on diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania, seriously undermines sovereignty and territorial integrity. from China and. “
“As a sovereign country, China has the right to respond appropriately and must do so,” the embassy said in a statement.
[ad_2]
