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Taiwan calls on world to back Lithuania after latest Beijing sanctions

ROC Central News Agency

02/10/2022 04:26 PM

Taipei, Feb. 10 (CNA) Taiwan on Thursday called on the world to stand in solidarity with Lithuania following China's suspension of beef imports from the Baltic state over its closer ties with Taipei.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) condemned China's "bullying" of Lithuania, while describing Beijing's economic sanctions on the Baltic state as "despicable" and a "disruption of the global rules-based economic and trade order."

Ou called on the international community to show their support for Lithuania, adding that Taiwan will continue to stand in solidarity with the Baltic state.

The suspension of beef imports since Wednesday was announced by China's General Administration of Customs, without providing an explanation.

The agency typically halts imports of meat if exporting nations report outbreaks of disease in livestock, however, Lithuania has not reported any such issues to the World Organization for Animal Health recently.

The announcement was made amid growing friction between Lithuania and China over the former's decision to allow the use of the word "Taiwanese" in the name of Taiwan's representative office in the Baltic state, which opened last November.

China considers Taiwan to be an inseparable part of its sovereign territory and has sought to impose a cost on Lithuania for its decision, arguing that such a move encourages Taiwan independence.

Recent punitive measures taken by Beijing have included recalling its ambassador to Lithuania and expelling the Lithuanian ambassador to China, as well as suspending direct freight rail services and banning Lithuanian products from entering the Chinese market.

In response, the European Union last month launched a challenge at the World Trade Organization (WTO), accusing China of discriminatory trade practices against Lithuania that it says threaten the integrity of the EU's single market.

The United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have also said they will back the case against China at the trade body based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Currently Taiwan, which is also a WTO member, has not officially announced if it will participate in consultations on the case, saying only that it will closely follow the case and show its support for Lithuania and EU, without elaborating.

Taiwan announced last month that it will soon set up a US$1 billion credit fund to encourage Taiwan-Lithuania business cooperation and deepen bilateral economic ties, with the goal of offsetting increasing Chinese economic pressure.

The credit fund is separate from a US$200 million fund Taiwan previously promised to use to prioritize investment in Lithuania before expanding it to include other central and eastern European countries.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW