China downgrades ties with Lithuania

Bloomberg

China downgraded ties with Lithuania to the level of charge d’affaires, further raising tensions after Taiwan opened a diplomatic office in the Baltic nation.
Lithuania is “walking back on political promises” made in a communique for establishing diplomatic links with China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
China withdrew its ambassador from Lithuania in August in protest at the Baltic nation’s move to let Taiwan set up a representative office under the name of Taiwan, something that China deems disrespect to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China sees the democratically ruled island of Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly voiced opposition to countries engaging in official contact with Taipei and vowed to take countermeasures.
The “One China” policy is the political basis of relations between the two countries and the establishment of Taiwan’s office sets a bad international precedent, China’s foreign ministry said.
“We urge Lithuania to immediately correct this mistake and not to underestimate the Chinese people’s strong determination and ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it added.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said it regrets China’s decision to downgrade diplomatic ties, reiterating that it respects the “One China” principle. The Baltic nation “has a right to expand cooperation with Taiwan, to accept and to establish non-diplomatic representations to ensure practical development of such ties,” like in many other countries, the ministry said.
“Lithuania has opened a representative office for practical cooperation,” Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said. “But this is not a diplomatic representation office. I want to emphasize this yet again.”
Simonyte said the move shouldn’t be a surprise because it was in the government’s program and that she thinks the one-China principle is being
respected. Earlier this year, Lithuania pulled out of the 17+1 cooperation mechanism, which was set up by China to promote trade and dialogue between China and central and eastern European countries.