Lithuania is solely responsible for the recent deterioration in relations between Vilnius and Beijing, the Chinese Embassy said on Wednesday.
“The responsibility for the current difficult situation in China-Lithuania relations lies squarely with the Lithuanian side. We urge the Lithuanian side not to turn back the wheel of history, and not to make wrong decisions. We also believe that all countries in the world, including the EU, will make a fair judgment on Lithuania's attempt to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China,” the embassy's statement reads.
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The embassy says its statement comes in response to statements from Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Arnoldas Pranckevičius who spoke in Washington last week during the Aspen Security Forum.
The Lithuanian politician said that China's behavior with Lithuania, after Vilnius decided to withdraw from the 17+1 cooperation format and decided to open a Taiwan representation, should be a “wake-up call” for Europe. Lithuania has also proposed to China to cooperate under the 27+1 format involving all EU member states, the vice minister was quoted by the Reuters news agency.
“I think it is a wake up call in many ways, especially for fellow Europeans to understand that if you want to defend democracy, you have to stand up for it,” Pranckevičius said. “China is trying to make an example out of us - a negative example, so that other countries don't necessarily follow that path, and therefore it is a matter of principle how the Western community, the United States, and European Union reacts.”
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The Chinese Embassy says such statements “confuse right and wrong, do not correspond to the facts and are totally wrong”.
“The Taiwan issue is a matter of China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The one-China principle is the political basis for China to develop relations with all countries which have diplomatic relations with China,” the statement reads.
“Lithuania's attempt to make a breakthrough on the Taiwan issue seriously violates the political commitment made when establishing diplomatic relations with China, and endangers China's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the embassy stated.
It also added that cooperation under the 17+1 format between China and Central and Eastern European countries was “an open and inclusive cooperation platform, as well as a useful complement to China-EU cooperation”.
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“The EU, as an observer to the framework, has been present at the major activities of the China-CEE cooperation for a long time. Whether Lithuania participates in the cooperation has nothing to do with the EU speaking in one voice to China,” the embassy statement reads.
The embassy believes that “stealing concepts and creating confusion does not cover up the mistakes made”.
As Vilnius-Beijing ties went south, China recalled its ambassador from Lithuania and told Vilnius to do the same. Ambassador Diana Mickevičienė returned to Vilnius for consultations in early September.
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