Chinese media: Beijing could impose sanctions on Lithuania

Beijing could impose official economic sanctions on Lithuania, which is forging closer ties with Taiwan, the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda newspaper Guangxi Shibao reported in English.

The Lithuanian news portal “15.min.lt” reported on Wednesday that the government’s position is often reflected in this newspaper, however, the threats expressed in the articles are not always implemented in government policy.

China could impose “US-style sanctions” on Lithuania, according to a Chinese newspaper, which cites as an example US restrictions on the use of telecommunications equipment manufactured by the Chinese company Huawei.

“China has the right to prohibit any company from selling products using Chinese-made parts or technology to Lithuania, and vice versa. Foreign companies can also be banned from selling products using raw materials and parts from Lithuania in China,” Huangju Shibao said.

It has already been reported that Beijing is putting recent economic and diplomatic pressure on Lithuania in response to Vilnius’ decision to allow Taiwan to establish a representation in Lithuania under the name “Taiwan” as China seeks to prevent any attempt by Taiwan to act as an independent state. Elsewhere in the world, such representations use the name “Taipei” as Taiwan’s capital, in line with Beijing’s “one China” policy, which does not allow Taiwan to be considered a separate country.

China has recently abolished direct freight train journeys to Lithuania and issued food export permits to Lithuanian companies, reduced credit limits for Lithuanian companies and raised prices, and temporarily excluded Lithuania from its customs system.

Lithuanian businessmen acknowledge that these disagreements have made their cooperation with China significantly more difficult, but the Lithuanian government hopes that closer economic ties with Taiwan could offset these losses over time.

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