China’s foreign ministry is continuing to criticize Lithuania’s decision to allow a “Taiwanese Representative Office” to open in its capital. Beijing says that the use of the word “Taiwan” in the office’s official name violates its “one China policy”.
China has withdrawn its ambassador to Lithuania in protest, and demanded that Lithuania recall its ambassador to Beijing as well. Lithuania’s foreign minister has called this “regrettable”, but that Lithuania will still work to build mutually beneficial ties with Taiwan while still respecting the “one China principle”.
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry says that Beijing won’t tolerate countries paying lip service to the “one China policy” while working to establish official ties with Taiwan or even serving as a platform for Taiwan independence forces.