Lithuania told to honor one-China commitment

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday that China has the right to, and also should make, legitimate and reasonable responses after Lithuania allowed the authorities in Taiwan to establish a so-called representative office under the name of "Taiwan".

Hua made the remarks after the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry described as "disappointing" China's decision on Tuesday to recall its ambassador to the Baltic country and demand that Lithuania recall its top envoy in Beijing.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said that while Lithuania respects the one-China principle, it stands ready to develop mutually beneficial ties with Taiwan, just as many other countries in the world do.

European Union foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali also expressed regret over Beijing's action, saying that the EU does not regard the opening of a representative office in or from Taiwan as a breach of the EU's one-China policy.

In remarks released on the ministry's website, Hua said that any distortion of the definition of the one-China principle is not tolerated.

"The Chinese people will never allow the act of flagrantly engaging in official interactions with the Taiwan authorities and even endorsing those seeking ‘Taiwan independence' while paying lip service to the one-China principle," she said.

The spokeswoman noted that since China and Lithuania established diplomatic relations, China has never done anything detrimental to Lithuania's national interests and has always respected Lithuania's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

But Lithuania's decision to allow Taiwan's opening of an office in Lithuania under its own name has seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and severely contravenes the one-China principle, she said.

"Once again, we urge the Lithuanian side not to misjudge China's firm resolve and strong will to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, earnestly honor its commitment to the one-China principle, and create conditions for the sound and steady development of China-Lithuania relations," Hua said.

In Washington, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the US said Lithuania's latest move regarding Taiwan "brazenly" violates the spirit of the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania, seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and severely contravenes the one-China principle widely recognized by the international community.

"As a sovereign country, China has the right to and should make proper responses. The US is in no position to point fingers and make irresponsible remarks," the spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.

The comments were made a day after US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter that the US stands with its ally Lithuania and condemns China's retaliatory actions, and that the US supports its European partners as they develop ties with Taiwan.

"We urge the US side to abide by the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués and the one-China principle, so as to uphold the political foundation of China-US relations," the Chinese spokesperson noted.

The over 1.4 billion Chinese people will never allow any country to challenge China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spokesperson said in the statement, adding that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end, and that any attempt to support it and split China up is doomed to fail.