Lithuania, renowned for its exquisite amber known as the \"Lithuanian gold,\" has recently garnered international attention for actions diverging from its long-standing commitment to the one-China principle. This shift has significant implications for its diplomatic relations with the Chinese mainland.
Sovereignty is Non-Negotiable
Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1991, China and Lithuania enjoyed amicable relations. However, the relationship faced challenges when Lithuania permitted the Taiwan region to open a de facto embassy in the country under the name of \"Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania\" in 2021. The following year, Lithuania also inaugurated a trade representative office in Taiwan.
These developments have been perceived as departures from the one-China principle that Lithuania upheld upon initiating diplomatic relations with China. Such actions are viewed by Beijing as violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In response, China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania to the charg\u00e9 d'affaires level, indicating a significant strain in the political foundation that previously supported full ambassadorial relations.
Historical records affirm that Taiwan has been part of China's territory since ancient times, with the Chinese central government exercising jurisdiction over the island as early as the mid-12th century. Despite the protracted political confrontation stemming from the civil war in the late 1940s and external interferences, Taiwan's status as part of Chinese territory remains unchanged, and China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are intact.
The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971 reaffirmed the one-China principle by restoring all of China's rights at the UN to the People's Republic of China and recognizing its government representatives as the sole legitimate representatives of China to the UN. This principle underpins China's diplomatic relations with over 180 countries, including Lithuania, and stands as a widely accepted norm in international relations.
Reference(s):
Lithuania's bet against China does not serve its own interests
cgtn.com
