Zhao Lijian Photo: VCG

Chinese Foreign Ministry slammed the US and the European Union (EU) for making groundless accusations against China, confusing right and wrong, violating morality and tarnishing their own image after the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Wednesday with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and highlighted their concerns about the so-called escalating political pressure and economic coercion by China against Lithuania.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday. Zhao pointed out that Lithuania has made serious mistakes on the Taiwan question. Instead of admitting and correcting its mistakes, Lithuania has repeatedly lied, shirked responsibility and confused the public, Zhao said, noting the US and the EU are well aware of this.

What the US and the EU should do is to urge Lithuania to admit and correct its mistakes as soon as possible, instead of deliberately protecting Lithuania regardless of the facts, Zhao said. 

Facts have repeatedly proved that the US is the epitome of all forms of unilateral bullying and coercive diplomacy, Zhao stressed.

The US has initiated various unilateral sanctions based on its domestic laws, exercised "long-arm jurisdiction," abused national power and arbitrarily oppressed foreign institutions, enterprises and individuals. There are countless examples of this, Zhao noted.

What the US has done is widely opposed by the international community. If the EU wants to uphold a just and equitable international order, it should distinguish right from wrong, uphold an objective and just position, and take concrete actions to safeguard the sound and steady development of China-EU relations, rather than follow the US and take the wrong side of morality, Zhao urged.

Previously, some Lithuanian and other foreign media outlets reported that Lithuanian products were removed from China's customs systems, with some painting the move as "economic coercion" by China, after China downgraded diplomatic ties with Lithuania over the latter's mistake on the Taiwan question. 

However, a Global Times investigation into such claims, which included interviews with several sources close to Chinese customs and industry insiders, found that Lithuanian products are still listed in official customs systems as of Sunday, contrary to what some media reports suggested. 

Global Times