Lithuanian Embassy in Beijing is closed, diplomats and their families were urgently evacuated home because of the threats of the Chinese authorities – China “punishes” Lithuania for the opening of Taiwan’s diplomatic representation in Vilnius. The most acute diplomatic crisis between China and the EU in the last 40 years begins, ISRAEL INFO writes.
Taiwan’s representative office opened in Vilnius, because of which China reduced the level of diplomatic relations with Lithuania, perceiving this step as a “blow to China’s sovereignty” – China considers Taiwan with his sovereign territory. In response, China recalled the ambassador from Lithuania, and in November announced a decrease in the level of diplomatic relations and deprivation of the Lithuanian representative office of the Embassy status. Chinese diplomatic passports demanded until December 14 to pass for replacement for other documents. Vilnius, in turn, ordered diplomats not to take documents and was evacuated to their homeland together with families, in concerning the fact that the staff of the embassy and their families would deprive diplomatic inviolability. On December 15, a small group of Lithuanians left Beijing.
Economy Economist described evacuation as a stressed scene, “a decent thriller about the times of the Cold War.”
In the past few weeks, China de facto has banned the import of any Lithuanian goods and products of other countries containing components produced in Lithuania. Also suspended freight rail transportation to Lithuania, a credit limit has been reduced for Lithuanian enterprises operating in the Chinese market, the issuance of food export permits is suspended. In early December, China crossed out Lithuania from the database of his customs system.
There were also other economic sanctions and, as the Economist edition notes, officially announced China against Lithuania, and in response to EU requests that “Lithuania Lzhet, and the Europeans should not become hostages of this tiny state creating problems. ” The Chinese media are accused of crisis of the United States, explaining this by the fact that the “tiny” Lithuania would never have decided on confrontation with the superpower without the support of Washington.
Lithuania is waiting for support from the European Union after blocking the PRC of Lithuanian cargo. China expects that the EU will put pressure on Lithuania and will force it to obedience to the requirements of Beijing, but these calculations may not be justified, and the situation threatens confrontation between China and the EU. The EU warns that blocking Lithuanian exports rudely violate the WTO charter. French President Emmanuel Macron assured Lithuanians that with all the importance for EU relations with great powers, the principle of European solidarity is even more important.