China Seems to Take Lithuania, a Small Country with Less Than 3 Million People, as an Example

Chinese State Media Warns "There Will Be a Price to Pay" if Taiwan Representative Office Established
Lithuania Criticized as "A Dog Barking Fiercely for the United States"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] After the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded the recall of the Lithuanian ambassador to China in protest against Lithuania's establishment of a Taiwan representative office, Chinese media fiercely criticized the Lithuanian government, mentioning the possibility of severing diplomatic ties.

On the 11th, Chinese state-run media such as Xinhua News Agency and Global Times reported on the official demand by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recall the ambassador, describing Lithuania as the European country with the strongest anti-Russian sentiment. They also emphasized that Lithuania would pay the price for establishing the Taiwan representative office.

Lithuanian Embassy on a Weekday
Photo by Yonhap News

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a spokesperson's statement the previous day that Lithuania's establishment of the Taiwan representative office seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning Lithuania not to go further down the wrong path.

The Global Times commented, "Lithuania is a pro-American country and a dog that barks fiercely for the United States," then recalled a speech by former U.S. President George Bush in 2002. During his visit to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, President Bush said, "Making Lithuania an enemy is making the United States an enemy."

Lithuania's relations with China rapidly deteriorated after it was reported last month that Lithuania and Taiwan had agreed to establish a Taiwan representative office in Vilnius. Earlier, the Lithuanian government criticized China over human rights issues in Xinjiang and the Uyghur population and withdrew from the '17+1 Economic Cooperation' between China and Central and Eastern European countries.

Ryu Zhuokui, a researcher at the European Studies Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "It seems that the Lithuanian government, which took office last October, has changed its geopolitical judgment," adding, "The Biden administration appears to be exerting influence on this small country with a population of less than 3 million, leading Lithuania to pursue an anti-China policy."

Some voices suggest that the Chinese government is likely to use Lithuania as an example.

Shin Chang, deputy director of the American Studies Center at Fudan University, said, "The demand to recall the Lithuanian ambassador is a direct and indirect warning from the Chinese government to other European countries," expressing concern that "the United States could exploit Lithuania's anti-China moves to cause bigger problems."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.