Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drone strikes vehicle in Khirbet Selem, one martyr reported.
Reuters: US military carried out a new strike targeting a ship in the Caribbean Sea
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli raids targeted a cement plant, an asphalt factory, and fuel tanks in the Ansar area in South Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A series of violent Israeli raids targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of the town of Shmestar in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon
Donald Trump will speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday: White House
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes raid the town of Bnaafoul, Saida district
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.

China on EU's Lithuania WTO complaint: 'Groundless, inconsistent'

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Jan 2022 12:56
3 Min Read

Following an EU complaint about China rejecting import applications from Lithuania, the Chinese Foreign Ministry says allegations are not true.

  • x
  • China
    Chinese FM Spokesperson Zhao Lijian

China considered Thursday the "so-called Chinese coercion against Lithuania" as "groundless and inconsistent," following a trade complaint launched by the European Union at the World Trade Organization which accuses Beijing of economically punishing Lithuania over its stance on Taiwan.

"The so-called Chinese coercion against Lithuania is groundless and inconsistent," said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian, adding that "the issue between China and Lithuania is a political one, not an economic one."

Zhao affirmed that "the claims that China's authorities 'are not clearing Lithuanian shipments' and that 'they are rejecting import applications from Lithuania' is not true."

 "If companies face technical problems in exporting certain products to China, they can report to competent Chinese authorities through normal channels," he said.

The Chinese Spokesperson underlined that "the Lithuanian side bears the sole responsibility for the severe difficulties in China-Lithuania relations."

Failed attempts to resolve the issue

Earlier, EU Trade Chief Valdis Dombrovskis said in a statement that "launching a WTO case is not a step we take lightly."

Related News

Trump to meet Zelensky ahead of Putin summit announcement

Trump refiles $15 bln lawsuit against NYT after judge’s dismissal

"However, after repeated failed attempts to resolve the issue bilaterally, we see no other way forward than to request WTO dispute settlement consultations with China," he added.

The EU claimed it found evidence of Chinese restrictions.

These included "a refusal to clear Lithuanian goods through customs, rejection of import applications from Lithuania, and pressuring EU companies operating out of other EU member states to remove Lithuanian inputs from their supply chains," claims that China refuted.

The European Commission handles trade policy for the EU's 27 member states and takes the lead on conflicts at the WTO in Geneva.

Of course, the US has signaled its support for the EU and Lithuania.

China downgrades relations with Lithuania

It is noteworthy that China officially downgraded its relations with Lithuania to the level of chargé d'affaires on November 21, 2021, according to China's Foreign Ministry, in protest of Taiwan opening a de facto representative office in Vilnius.

The Foreign Ministry protested the move, saying it downgraded diplomatic relations between the two countries to "safeguard its sovereignty."

This move, according to the Ministry, abandons Lithuania's political commitment in the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and China.

Earlier this month, Lithuania's President, Gitanas Nauseda, said his country's decision to open a representative office for Taiwan, using the name of the country, was a mistake.

Beijing refuses any the opening of such office and the use of the name of Taiwan, which it considers as part of its territory. Chinese President Xi Jinping had early on pledged to reincorporate Taiwan into the Chinese mainland.

  • United States
  • World Trade Organization
  • US
  • EU
  • China
  • Zhao Lijian
  • Xi Jinping
  • Lithuania
  • European Union

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
The bodies of deceased Palestinians, held by Israel during the war, lie in plastic bags on the floor of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, following their release, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' returns 30 Palestinian bodies; some bear marks of torture

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of war debris as crisis deepens
Politics

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of debris, 20,000 lingering UXOs

Ex-White House adviser Ashley Tellis charged over secret files
Politics

Ex-White House advisor accused of amassing troves of top secret files

An Israeli soldier rests by a mobile artillery unit at a gathering point on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern “Israel”, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Global arms bans isolate 'Israel', yet its war machine keeps running

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS