China warns of retaliation after Lithuania expels embassy staff
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The tension follows the severing of two Baltic Sea telecommunications cables in Swedish waters last month, one of which connects Gotland, Sweden, to Lithuania.
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The Chinese carrier Yi Peng 3, in the background, is monitored by a Danish naval patrol vessel in the Sea of Kattegat, off the coast of Jutland, Denmark, November 20, 2024. (AP)
Beijing warned on Monday that it could take "countermeasures" against Lithuania following the expulsion of three Chinese embassy staff, as tensions rise over Vilnius’ relations with Taiwan and the alleged involvement of a Chinese ship in damaging undersea cables.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned the move, stating, "China strongly condemns and firmly rejects this wanton and provocative action" and called on Lithuania to "immediately stop undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stop creating difficulty for bilateral relations."
The tension follows the severing of two Baltic Sea telecommunications cables in Swedish waters last month, one of which connects Gotland, Sweden, to Lithuania. Allegations have been raised about the involvement of a Chinese vessel, the Yi Peng 3, in the incident, as tracking sites claim the ship was in the area around the time the cables were cut.
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On Friday, Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry declared three Chinese diplomats "undesirable", without providing specific reasons, only citing "activities which violate the Vienna Convention and the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania."
Lithuania has since announced the formation of a joint investigation team with Sweden and Finland, supported by Eurojust, to probe the damaged cables.
China has denied involvement and expressed its willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
Relations between Lithuania and China had already been strained since 2021 when Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy under its own name. China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, accused Vilnius of "acting in serious violation of the one-China principle," adding that this "has caused severe difficulty for bilateral ties."
