BEIJING: Beijing warned on Monday (Dec 2) it might take “countermeasures” in opposition to Lithuania after the expulsion of three Chinese embassy staff, as relations fray over Vilnius’ Taiwan ties and the suspected involvement of a Chinese language ship in sea cables injury.
“China strongly condemns and firmly rejects this wanton and provocative motion,” a overseas ministry spokesperson stated in an announcement.
“China calls on Lithuania to right away cease undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and cease creating issue for bilateral relations,” they added.
Two Baltic Sea telecommunications cables were severed final month in Swedish territorial waters, together with one operating from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania.
Suspicions have been directed at a Chinese language ship – the Yi Peng 3 – which monitoring websites stated had sailed over the cables across the time they had been reduce.
On Friday, Lithuania’s overseas ministry stated three Chinese language workers members “have been declared undesirable within the nation”.
The ministry didn’t give the exact causes for the expulsion, citing solely “actions which violate the Vienna Conference and the laws of the Republic of Lithuania”.
