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Sino–Lithuanian relations (Template:Lang-lt) are the bilateral foreign relations between the People's Republic of China (China) and Lithuania. The PRC has a Charge d'affaires in Vilnius, while Lithuania has a Charge d'affaires in Beijing.
Timeline
Sino-Lithuanian relations date back to 1921, when the Republic of China recognized Lithuania until the latter's occupation and subsequent annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940. Modern diplomatic relations between Lithuania and the People's Republic of China were officially established on 14 September 1991, following the official restoration of Lithuanian independence. Neither the PRC nor the ROC recognized the incorporation of Lithuania into the Soviet Union.
In 1992, the PRC's embassy was established in Vilnius, and in 1995, the Lithuanian embassy was established in Beijing.
In August 2021, the ROC opened its representative office in Vilnius under the name of "Taiwan" (the first under this name in Europe), with the Lithuanian office in Taipei to open by the end of 2021. In response, the PRC recalled its ambassador in Vilnius, Shen Zhifei, and demanded that Lithuania recall its ambassador in Beijing, Diana Mickevičienė. Trade between the two countries were also seriously disrupted. Relations between the PRC and Lithuania were downgraded to the level of chargé d'affaires on 21 November 2021.
In the 2010s the Lithuanian government prevented PRC companies from investing in the Port of Klaipėda and participating in 5G and airport infrastructure tenders on unsubstantiated national security grounds. It also declared PRC a national security danger, an accusation that was not publicly substantiated. Lithuania also withdrew from 17+1 platform.
In August 2021, the ROC opened its representative office in Vilnius under the name of "Taiwan" (the first under this name in Europe), with the Lithuanian office in Taipei to open by the end of 2021. Lithuania thus reneged on its 1991 agreement with PRC. Justifications of the action offered by the Lithuanian government included the importance of "value-based politics", supporting fellow democracies, pivoting foreign policy to Asia and keeping United States attention on Lithuania while the former is pivoting its foreign policy attention to Asia. The Lithuanian government also stated that Lithuania-China trade and investment were negligible (although trade was still at least 10 times larger than Lithuania-Taiwan trade). The CEO of Teltonika, a Lithuanian IoT manufacturer, spoke of unsubstantiated negotiations on a joint venture with a Taiwanese chip manufacturer to open a chip foundry in Lithuania, with potential investment amounting to billions of dollars. At this time, TSMC was publicly known to have been considering building a chip foundry in Germany. If true, the Lithuanian foundry would have surpassed all Taiwan-originating investments in the countries of European Union put together.
In response, the PRC recalled its ambassador in Vilnius, Shen Zhifei, and demanded that Lithuania recall its ambassador in Beijing, Diana Mickevičienė. Trade between the two countries were also seriously disrupted. Relations between the PRC and Lithuania were downgraded to the level of chargé d'affaires on 21 November 2021.
Human rights criticisms
In June 2020, Lithuania openly opposed the Hong Kong national security law in a statement given at the United Nations Human Rights Council. Later, in May 2021, the Seimas passed a resolution that recognized the Uyghur genocide and called for the PRC's government to revoke the Hong Kong national security law.
In March 2021, the PRC blacklisted Lithuanian MP Dovilė Šakalienė because of comments she made regarding the state of human rights in mainland China.
On 19 November 2021, group of members of Lithuanian national parliament Seimas released an official letter encouraging Lithuania to withdrew from 2022 Olympics due human rights violations in China. Daina Gudzinevičiūtė, president of National Olympic Committee of Lithuania, released a statement that Olympic games should be politically neutral and confirmed that committee has no plans to boycott the games.
Notable ambassadors
- Chen Di (1992–1993)
See also
- Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China
- Foreign relations of the Republic of China
- Foreign relations of Lithuania
- Lithuania–Taiwan relations
References
- "China recalls envoy to Lithuania over Taiwan's move to open de facto embassy". South China Morning Post. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- Higgins, Andrew (2021-09-30). "Lithuania vs. China: A Baltic Minnow Defies a Rising Superpower". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- Shirouzu, Norihiko; Sytas, Andrius (21 November 2021). "China downgrades diplomatic ties with Lithuania over Taiwan". Reuters. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- BeijingNovember 21, Press Trust of India; November 21, 2021UPDATED; Ist, 2021 20:29. "China downgrades diplomatic ties with Lithuania over Taiwan de facto embassy". India Today. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
{{cite web}}:|first3=has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - "China recalls envoy to Lithuania over Taiwan's move to open de facto embassy". South China Morning Post. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- Higgins, Andrew (2021-09-30). "Lithuania vs. China: A Baltic Minnow Defies a Rising Superpower". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- Shirouzu, Norihiko; Sytas, Andrius (21 November 2021). "China downgrades diplomatic ties with Lithuania over Taiwan". Reuters. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- BeijingNovember 21, Press Trust of India; November 21, 2021UPDATED; Ist, 2021 20:29. "China downgrades diplomatic ties with Lithuania over Taiwan de facto embassy". India Today. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
{{cite web}}:|first3=has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Lawler, Dave (2 July 2020). "The 53 countries supporting China's crackdown on Hong Kong". Axios. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- Zachary, Basu (20 May 2021). "Lithuanian parliament becomes latest to recognize Uyghur genocide". Axios.
- Everington, Keoni (21 July 2021). "Lithuanian MP backs Taiwan de facto embassy, calls China 'bloody authoritarian regime'". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- "Grupė Lietuvos parlamentarų ragina boikotuoti Pekino žiemos olimpines žaidynes". The Wall Street Journal. Eastern Edition (in Lithuanian). 19 November 2021. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- "Po Seimo narių prašymo boikotuoti Pekino olimpinės žaidynes – griežtas LTOK atsakas". The Wall Street Journal. Eastern Edition (in Lithuanian). 23 November 2021. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
External links
- (in English and Lithuanian) Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Beijing
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