US stands with Lithuania against ‘coercive’ China, State Department says
- Wendy Sherman reaffirms Washington’s support for Vilnius over its decision to develop relations with Taiwan
- Beijing is making an example of the Baltic state to deter others on the issue, analyst says
The United States will stand with Lithuania against China’s “coercive behaviour” after Beijing’s decision to recall its envoy to the Baltic state, according to US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman.
In a phone call with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Friday, Sherman “reiterated the United States is resolute in our solidarity with our Nato ally and European Union partner Lithuania, including standing with them in the face of the People’s Republic of China’s recent coercive behaviour in response to Lithuania’s decision to develop mutually beneficial ties with Taiwan”, State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
China-Lithuania stand-off: why do Taiwan’s missions mostly use the name ‘Taipei’?
Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province and sees the office in Vilnius as a violation of the one-China policy, one of Beijing’s diplomatic red lines.
The US Department of State has also said that each country should be able to determine its own one-China policy without outside coercion.
China responded by stressing that the one-China policy demanded countries cut all official ties with the island and that China opposed the US’ “gross interference” in China’s “legitimate” actions.
“Certain countries and people are trying to confuse public opinion with malicious intentions, but their plot is doomed to fail,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday.
China wary of Lithuanian domino effect over de facto Taiwan embassy
Taiwan has emerged to be a flashpoint between China and the US.
Taiwan said on Thursday that it was “working hard” for a seat in the summit.
Zeng Jinghan, professor of China and international studies at Lancaster University, said Beijing was making an example of Vilnius.
“China seeks to deter other countries by showing them the consequences of confronting China by taking a tough stand against Lithuania,” Zeng said.
China’s ties with Lithuania deteriorated after it dropped out in May of the China-led 17+1 group, a platform to promote business and investment with central and eastern European countries.
