Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Photo: fmprc.gov.cn

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday warned Lithuania and Taiwan secessionists that China's sovereignty is inviolable and there will be a price for undermining China's sovereignty, after Taiwan's regional leader Tsai Ing-wen met with lawmakers from three Baltic states and announced that Lithuania will set up an office in the island early next year, a further provocation after the Chinese authorities downgraded diplomatic ties with Lithuania as a warning.  

We once again admonish Lithuania to take concrete actions to correct its mistakes and fulfill its political commitments on the Taiwan-related affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday. 

A Lithuanian parliamentary delegation reportedly arrived on the island on Sunday morning to attend the "2021 Open Parliament Forum" on December 2-3. The delegation was joined by Janis Vucans and Juri Jaanson, members of parliament and chairs of "Taiwan friendship groups" in Latvia and Estonia.

During the meeting, Tsai made the announcement that Lithuania will set up a representative office in the island of Taiwan in early 2022. Tsai also reaffirmed the island's cooperation with Lithuania in semiconductors, satellites and biotechnology. 

Setting up an office does not mean recognition, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday. 

Lithuania has challenged the internationally recognized one-China principle and agreed to set up a representative office of the island with the name "Taiwanese." 

"And cooperation projects between Lithuania and the island of Taiwan have many uncertain elements; whether the island will strengthen the supply chain with Lithuania is the choice of Taiwan enterprises," Cui said.  

Observers said that local enterprises in the island may not be interested in establishing a semiconductor industry chain in Lithuania since Lithuania is so far away from the island and the market is not big enough.

To ask for more support from these three Baltic states, Tsai claimed in the meeting of the values and experiences that Taiwan has "in common with" the three countries. 

Taiwan and the Baltic nations share similar experiences of breaking free from "authoritarian rule" and fighting for "freedom." The democracy we enjoy today was hard-earned, Tsai said.

As for "democracy" that Tsai emphasized, observers said Tsai is desperately trying to draw the island closer to the US and remind the US to protect and support them. On the other hand, she's trying to brainwash European public opinion, with efforts to turn "democracy" or "non-democracy" into the basis for determining whether a region is "independent or not."

China firmly opposes countries with diplomatic relations to carry out any form of official and political exchange with the island of Taiwan. This position has always been clear, Wang said.

We urge relevant parties to be cautious in words and deeds and stop sending the wrong signals to Taiwan secessionists. Taiwan authorities' attempts to engage in provocative activities to seek independence in collusion with external forces are ill-conceived and is doomed to fail, Wang noted.