China condemns Lithuania government's refugee violence as hypocrisy

Chinese Foreign Ministry Condemns Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister's Remarks as Nonsense... Warns Only Lithuanian Government Will Suffer from Great Power Provocation
Relentless Criticism Continues

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been criticizing the Lithuanian government daily, accusing it of spouting sophistry after approving the establishment of a 'Taiwan Representative Office.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 18th, the Lithuanian government approved changing the name of the Taipei Representative Office located in its capital, Vilnius, to the Taiwan Representative Office. Using the name of the country Taiwan instead of the capital Taipei signifies that the office's status has been elevated to that of an embassy.

According to state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 23rd, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged at a regular briefing the previous day, "Lithuania must immediately correct its mistake." Zhao used most of the briefing time to denounce Lithuania.

Regarding the statement by Lithuania's Deputy Foreign Minister that the Taiwan Representative Office has no diplomatic status and that Lithuania hopes to normalize diplomatic relations with China, Zhao dismissed it as "sophistry." He pointed out that claiming no diplomatic status is a trick to conceal the truth and that the Taiwan Representative Office could become an important diplomatic breakthrough for Taiwan separatist authorities.

He claimed, "China has repeatedly lodged solemn protests, but Lithuania approved the Taiwan Representative Office, which blatantly recognizes one China and one Taiwan."

Zhao raised his voice, saying that Lithuania promised the One-China principle in the joint statement when establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, and that Lithuania's recent action is a betrayal and sets a bad precedent.

Zhao warned, "The establishment of the Taiwan Representative Office by Lithuania was carried out under the instigation of some great powers, and the resulting losses will be entirely Lithuania's responsibility."

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized Lithuania's refugee policy.

Zhao stated, "The Lithuanian military is violently driving out Middle Eastern refugees using military dogs," and said the Chinese government is seriously concerned about Lithuania's refugee policy and strongly condemns it. He emphasized that Lithuania's advocacy of freedom and democracy is hypocritical. He strongly urged Lithuania to stop violence against refugees and take effective measures to protect refugees' human rights.

Regarding the possibility of severing diplomatic ties with Lithuania, he said, "China has solemnly conveyed its position according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," adding that China will take all necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, on the 21st, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania to the level of charg? d'affaires in protest against Lithuania's approval of the Taiwan Representative Office.

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