Lithuania withdraws Chinese envoy in dispute over Taiwan

Lithuania withdraws Chinese envoy in dispute over Taiwan

Beijing says it will recall China's envoy to Vilnius.

Lithuanians supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests argue with counter-demonstrators in Vilnius in 2019. (Reuters pic)
VILNIUS:
Lithuania said on Friday it had recalled its ambassador from Beijing for consultations, in a dispute over Europe’s first representative office for Taiwan to use the island’s name, which China views as a challenge to its claim on the territory.

Taiwan said in July the mission in Vilnius would be called the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania. Other Taiwanese missions in Europe and the US use the name of the city Taipei, avoiding a reference to the island itself.

China on Aug 10 demanded that Lithuania withdraw its ambassador in Beijing and said it would recall China’s envoy to Vilnius after Taiwan announced the new mission.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said its embassy in China was still working normally, despite the recall of the ambassador.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Lithuania’s foreign minister on Aug 21 and agreed on “bilateral coordinated action” to help the country withstand pressure from China, Lithuania said.

China considers democratically governed Taiwan to be its most sensitive territorial issue as part of “one China”, and is regularly angered by any moves which might suggest the island is a separate country.

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