Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda will speak with European Union (EU) leaders and ask them for help amid an escalating dispute with China, an adviser to the president told a public broadcaster.
“The president will speak with the EU leaders about the pressure we face, we think this will lead to a discussion how the EU and particularly European Commission could help Lithuania in this matter,” Asta Skaisgiryte said. “We want that the conflict to be clear to our European partners and that the economic actions would be as wide as possible,” she added.
Tensions between the two countries escalated after Taiwan last month opened a de facto embassy in Lithuania under its own name, suggesting its independence from China. In response to what China views as disrespect to its sovereignty, Beijing downgraded its diplomatic ties with the EU country and warned of consequences.
Since the fallout, Lithuanian authorities have reported being pressured in various ways.
After the unilateral decision by Beijing to rename the #Lithuanian Embassy in China and to recall all ID cards of its personnel, the Embassy staff will continue working remotely from Vilnius until the situation is assessed and the decision is found
— Gabrielius Landsbergis (@GLandsbergis) December 15, 2021
European Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali revealed last week that “Lithuanian shipments are not being cleared through Chinese customs and import applications are being rejected.” Local media also reported that some of Lithuania’s forestry and furniture goods have been held up at ports after the country was deleted from China’s electronic customs declarations system on December 1.
Similarly, a senior government official and an industry body told Reuters that China has also dragged companies into the political dispute. The Asian giant has reportedly threatened multinational companies to sever ties with Lithuania or face being shut out of the Chinese market.
Despite these developments, Lithuanian Foreign Minister (FM) Gabrielius Landsbergis has urged Europe to collectively to stand up against Chinese economic coercion and adapt to the short-term economic disadvantages dealt by Beijing.
Apart from economic coercion, China has also increased diplomatic pressure on Lithuanian diplomats. Earlier this week, it was reported that a group of 19 people, including embassy personnel and dependents, had left Beijing for Paris “due to intimidation and safety considerations.” According to Vilnius, Beijing informed the Baltic nation’s diplomats that their identification cards would no longer be valid soon and “were given extremely short time.”
Although Lithuania recalled its remaining diplomats from China, its FM had stressed that the move did not indicate “the closure of the embassy.” Landsbergis reasoned that there is a lack of certainty over the legal status of Lithuanian diplomats in China. He added that China wants Lithuania to change the status of its embassy in Beijing to a chargé d’affaires office.