Lithuania summons Chinese diplomat over sanctions

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Lithuania on Thursday summoned China's top representative to the Baltic nation to protest sanctions and a suspension of cooperation in the field of transport.

A statement by the Foreign Ministry said Qu Baihua, China's charge d'affaires, was summoned "to protest against the decision" of Beijing to impose sanctions on senior official Agne Vaiciukeviciute.

Vaiciukeviciute, Lithuania's deputy minister of transport and communications, was sanctioned last week by Beijing after she visited Taiwan, which China considers its "breakaway province".

There, she held 14 meetings in five days, focusing on ways to bolster cooperation with Taiwanese "maritime, shipping and aviation companies."

Beijing had said the visit undertaken by Vaiciukeviciute "tramples on the one-China principle, seriously interferes in China's internal affairs, and undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

It had also announced the suspension of cooperation with Lithuania in the field of transport.

Vilnius responded by calling Beijing's reaction "unilateral and unjustified."

"It violates international law and Lithuania's sovereignty," the ministry said, demanding Beijing revoke its decision.

Also, Lithuania appointed Paulius Lukauskas on Thursday as the head of its first representative to Taiwan.

Lukauskas will head the Lithuanian Trade Representation in Taipei, which is to begin operations next month.

China had downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania last year after Vilnius allowed Taiwan to open a mission in the country, a de facto embassy, angering Beijing.

In response, China had recalled its ambassador from Lithuania and asked the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry to change its own diplomatic mission to the charge d’affaires level.