China has imposed sanctions on Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Agni Vaisukevichioti and suspended any exchanges with the ministry in connection with the visit of a Lithuanian delegation led by Vaishukavichioti to Taiwan.
China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website today that China is imposing sanctions on Lithuania’s Vice Minister of Transport and Communications and is suspending any exchanges with the ministry due to a visit by a Lithuanian delegation led by Vaishukavisiot to Taiwan in response to malicious and provocative actions of a Lithuanian official.
The ministry noted that China has also decided to suspend the exchange and cooperation in the field of international road transport with Lithuania.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Thursday that China strongly condemns the Lithuanian delegation’s visit to Taiwan and will respond with a “strong counterattack.”
Before that, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry announced that a delegation from Lithuania headed by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania, Agni Vaisikevichute, arrived on the island on a five-day visit.
Relations between Lithuania and China escalated after the official opening of Taiwan’s representative office in Vilnius. In this regard, the Chinese Foreign Ministry protested to Lithuania. Subsequently, China unilaterally downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania to the level of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
Source: RIA Novosti