Lithuania Stands Firm After Irate China Decides To Recall Ambassador In Vilnius For Allowing Taiwan To Set Up A De Facto Embassy

China on Tuesday (Aug 10) announced it would recall its ambassador to Lithuania after the Baltic country allowed Taiwanese authorities to set up a "representative office" under the name of "Taiwan."

Beijing continues to regard the self-ruled island as part of its territory.

Beijing said the decision by Vilnius was a serious violation of the one-China policy, a key pillar of Chinese policymaking and diplomacy.

"The definition of the one-China principle is not to be distorted. The Chinese people will never allow the act of flagrantly engaging in official interactions with the Taiwan authorities and even endorsing those seeking "Taiwan independence" while paying lip service to the one-China principle," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Wednesday (Aug 11).

Ever since the two countries established diplomatic relations, China has always respected Lithuania's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, but Lithuania's decision to allow the Taiwan authorities to open a "representative office" under the name of "Taiwan" has seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and severely contravened the one-China principle, Hua noted.

On July 20, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu announced that the country will open an office in Vilnius under the name "The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania."

The name of Taiwan's foreign missions in countries with which it does not have diplomatic relations is usually "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office," "Taipei Representative Office," or "Taipei Trade and Investment Office," likely due to host countries' preference to avoid sovereignty implications.

Responding to Beijing's decision to recall its ambassador, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that Lithuania as a sovereign nation can decide its foreign policy for itself. Nauseda urged Beijing to change its decision.

US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price condemned China's "retaliatory actions" at Tuesday's press briefing. He said, "We stand in solidarity with out NATO ally Lithuania… Each country should be able to determine the contours of its own 'one China' policy without outside coercion."

Nabila Massrali, the European Union's spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also expressed support for Lithuania.

"We regret the Chinese action, and are following developments closely," Massrali said in a statement.

The spokeswoman reiterated the EU's stance in recognizing the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole government of China.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the main government agency that handles cross-strait affairs, criticised the Chinese government for its attempt to prevent other countries from connecting with Taiwan.

"The Republic of China is a sovereign country. Taiwan is never part of the People's Republic of China," the MAC said in a statement.