Lithuania distorts concept of one-China principle: Foreign Ministry

China on Tuesday accused Lithuania of dressing its provocation of the one-China principle as defending principles and values, urging the country to cut all official ties with Taiwan.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remark at a daily news conference after Lithuania's president Gitanas Nauseda told the Financial Times in a recent interview that Lithuania "was committed to defending the principles and values of democracy from attack".

He said Lithuania is free to decide with which countries or territories it develops economic and cultural relations.

If Lithuania could defend its values and interests, China certainly can also, even more firmly defending its interests, especially core interests concerning territorial sovereignty, Hua said.

Lithuania tries to distort the concept of the one-China principle to justify developing substantive relations with Taiwan, which is a deceptive move, she said.

The connotation of the one-China principle is clear and shall not be distorted, she said. Upholding the One-China policy means strictly abiding by the One-China principle and severing all official contacts Taiwan, either overt or covert, she added.