China threatens to send Lithuania to the “garbage bin” and sanctions
Concerns about Chinese economic penalties on Lithuania are not “totally baseless”, according to the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda newspaper Global Times.
“Lithuania’s actions directly violate the One China principle and seriously undermine China’s national interests,” the Global Times said on Monday.
“China can teach Lithuania many lessons. “US-style sanctions on foreign businesses may be more effective than others,” it continued.
According to the daily, China would bar enterprises using Chinese components or technology from selling to Lithuania.
However, the Global Times does not necessarily represent the Chinese government’s official perspective.
Lithuania’s closer connections with Taiwan and the building of Taiwan’s representative office in Vilnius has enraged China Beijing, which considers the self-governing island part of China, says the decision violates the One China principle and is against its national interests.
“Lithuania has recklessly violated the One China principle, a basic norm of international relations and a universal consensus held by the international community,” Zhao Lijian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official, told the Global Times.
“Those who insist in acting in collusion with Taiwan secessionist forces will eventually be swept into the garbage bin of history,” he said.
The Chinese customs department withdrew Lithuanian from its computerised declaration systems earlier this month, according to Lithuanian exporters.
The reported problem was eventually fixed, but Lithuanian businesses continue to face obstacles in China. Multinationals have also been reportedly encouraged to eliminate Lithuanian suppliers to keep doing business with China.