Beijing has accused Lithuania's Freedom Party, which is in talks over taking part in the country's future government, of interfering in China's domestic affairs by supporting Taiwan's independence.
The Chinese Embassy in Lithuania expressed indignation over the party's proposals for the new government's programme which include the aspiration “to have Taiwan's independence recognised”.
Read more: Chinese ambassador incensed after Taiwan representative speaks in Lithuanian parliament
“The Embassy expresses strong indignation and firm opposition. There's only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory,” the embassy said in a statement sent to BNS on Friday.
The Chinese Embassy says that, under bilateral Lithuanian-Chinese agreements, Vilnius is committed to not establish any official relations with Taiwan.
“The government programme proposal of the Freedom Party is a grave interference in China’s domestic affairs and a blatant violation of basic norms governing international relations as well as Lithuanian Government’s decades-long commitment to the One-China principle,” the Chinese Embassy said. “It has further sent a wrong signal to the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, adding to the threats to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
The Chinese Embassy says it does not seek “to be involved in the political agenda of Lithuania”, but the Freedom Party's proposals represented “the shaking of foundation of bilateral relations”, according to the statement.
The embassy urges the Freedom Party “to correct its mistake immediately, stop meddling in China’s domestic affairs and exercise public power in accordance with basic norms of international relations and Lithuanian Government’s political commitment”.
The Freedom Party's leader Aušrinė Armonaitė commented that “Lithuania is a sovereign country and political parties have different ideas” that China must respect.
“We would be grateful if China respected them. […] The Freedom Party is proposing a foreign policy based on human rights, respect for the rule of law, freedom of speech. We believe Taiwan has to be given a chance to be recognised,” she told BNS on Friday.
Asked whether the future government could recognise Taiwan's independence, Armonaitė said that the issue would be discussed during the negotiations with would-be coalition partners.
“That's our proposal, our view. This is a united position of the Freedom Party we are putting on the table and we will be inviting our partners to support it,” she said.
Moreover, the Freedom Party wants “to send a message” to people in countries like Taiwan and Hong Kong that “we see what's going on and we support their aspiration to respect human rights”.
Lithuania, just as many other counties in the world, does not recognise Taiwan's independence and adheres to the One-China policy.
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