A group of US Congress members have expressed their support for Vilnius in its diplomatic row with China, underlining Lithuania's "resolute will to counter the growing malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Europe".
"The Lithuanian people have set themselves apart with their bold and defiant opposition against foes of freedom and democracy," reads the letter which was initiated by August Pfluger, a Republican member of the House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs, and signed by a total of 15 members of the Congress.
"Your country understands better than most the reality of living under the thumb of brutal autocratic regimes. As generations before stared down the evils of the Soviet Union, your country today defies the CCP and the greatest existential threat in decades to democratic way of life."
The US lawmakers applauded Lithuania's "courageous decision" to leave the 17+1 cooperative framework agreement which is part of "the CCP's broader global strategy known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) deployed by China to turn investments and trade into political influence and leverage often through debt traps and dependency".
Read more: Lithuania’s stand-off with China: what’s next?
The Congress members call on other European countries to withdraw from 17+1, but say they "understand that the decision to leave the framework was not easy to make", because "we have seen the CCP punish those that object to its ambitions".
"It is imperative for the United States and her allies and partners to seek every opportunity to work together to protect and uphold those sacred values against the malign and corrosive tactics of the CCP," according to the letter.
The US lawmakers also welcomed the Lithuanian government's steps to improve relations with Taiwan.
"Beijing’s reaction and attempts to dictate Lithuania’s foreign policy through coercion and bullying is wholly unacceptable," they said. "We stand with you and condemn the CCP’s retaliatory behaviour."
Earlier this month, China recalled its ambassador to Vilnius for consultations over Lithuania's deepening ties with Taiwan, and demanded that Lithuania withdraw its envoy to Beijing.
Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, urges Lithuania to follow the "One-China principle" which means that both Taiwan and mainland China are inalienable parts of a single "China".
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