Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian

China has changed its diplomatic mission in Lithuania to Office of the Chargé d'Affaires and requested Lithuania to also change the name of its diplomatic mission in China, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said during Friday's press briefing. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China's practice is a legitimate countermeasure against Lithuania for undermining China's sovereignty, and the responsibility lies entirely with Lithuania. The Chinese people cannot be bullied, and China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no infringement, Zhao said.

One day before the Foreign Ministry's announcement, the Chinese Embassy in Lithuania said that consular operation services were suspended starting from Thursday. 

On November 18, Lithuania, in disregard of China's strong protest and repeated representations, allowed Taiwan island to set up a "representative office" in the name of Taiwan instead of Taipei, which apparently went against the one-China principle. Lithuania's move undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on November 18.

There is only one China in the world and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, the statement said.

Global Times