China rebukes Lithuania’s ‘wrong act’ over Taiwan

VILNIUS: China denounced Lithuania’s wrong act of allowing the Taiwan authorities to set up a “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania,” and urged the country to refrain from going further down the wrong path over the Taiwan question.

The one-China principle is a universally recognised norm governing international relations and the consensus of the international community, and is the political foundation for China to develop bilateral relations with other countries, Qu Baihua, acting charge d’affaires of the Chinese Office of Charge d’Affaires in Lithuania, told reporters on Wednesday.

The Taiwan question is a red line and bottom line that no country should cross, he noted.

However, Lithuania, in disregard of China’s strong protests and repeated representations, is determined to take the wrong action, blatantly violating the one-China principle, reneging on the political commitment it made in the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and openly creating a vicious precedent “one China, one Taiwan” in the world.

This is the root cause of the serious setback and difficulties in bilateral relations, for which Lithuania is fully responsible and should bear all the ensuing consequences, he said.

The official noted that Lithuania’s act damaged its credibility, sacrificed the fundamental interests of the country and its people, and broke the European Union (EU)’s unified position on the Taiwan question, having sparked criticism by people of insight in both Lithuania and the EU. As an EU member, Lithuania should adopt the same stance on crucial diplomatic issues as that of the EU, rather than soliciting solidarity and support from the EU after making trouble, Qu added.

Noting the China-EU relationship is very important for both sides, he urged Lithuania to be a responsible EU member and make due contributions to promoting the overall development of China-EU relations.

The senior diplomat added that China always acts in accordance with the World Trade Organisation rules. — Xinhua