China denounces Lithuania’s expulsion of its diplomats

China on Monday criticised Lithuania’s decision to expel three Chinese diplomats, with a foreign ministry spokesman labelling the move as “wanton and provocative” as relations between the two countries deteriorate further. 

The spokesperson for Beijing accused Lithuania of expelling the diplomats and declaring them persona non grata “without any reason,” according to a foreign ministry statement.

The diplomatic row coincides with an investigation into the suspected involvement of a Chinese vessel in severing two undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea, including one linking Lithuania and Sweden. The Swedish government has requested China’s cooperation in determining the cause of the cables’ rupture

Lithuania announced on Friday that it had declared “three members of the non-accredited staff” at China’s diplomatic mission persona non grata, ordering them to leave within a week. 

The Lithuanian foreign ministry did not provide further details, citing only the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and other international laws. 

The Baltic nation also stated that the presence of other Chinese diplomatic staff in Lithuania would be decided “in the near future”.

The spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry accused Lithuania of “again taken detrimental action that further exacerbates the relations”.

“China calls on Lithuania to immediately stop undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stop creating difficulty for bilateral relations,” the spokesperson said, warning that Beijing reserved the right to take countermeasures. 

Neither foreign ministry made specific reference to the Chinese ship in the Baltic.

The dispute comes three years after China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania to below ambassador level in retaliation for Lithuania’s decision to allow Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius. 

Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and prohibits other countries from maintaining official relations with the island.