Lithuania Embassy in China Suspends Visa Issuance... Retaliation Begins After Diplomatic Downgrade
Lithuania's Largest Trading Partner is Russia, Economic Retaliation from China May Not Cause Significant Damage
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese Embassy in Lithuania has suspended consular services. The suspension of consular services means a halt in visa issuance. This effectively cuts off exchanges between the two countries.
China's retaliation began just four days after downgrading diplomatic relations with Lithuania to the level of charg? d'affaires in protest of Lithuania's approval of the "Taiwan Representative Office (embassy-level)" on the 21st.
On the 25th (local time), the Chinese Embassy in Lithuania announced that consular services would be "temporarily suspended" due to "technical reasons," and that the resumption date would be notified separately later.
Although China cited "technical reasons" for the temporary suspension of consular services, it is a retaliatory measure against Lithuania's approval of the Taiwan Representative Office. In fact, Qiu Baihua, Charg? d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Lithuania, said at a press conference with local Lithuanian media the day before, "Properly handling the Taiwan issue is a prerequisite and key to restoring bilateral relations," and added, "The Lithuanian government must bear all consequences of its betrayal."
Qiu also stated, "China is a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council and the world's second-largest economy," suggesting economic retaliation by saying, "Deterioration of relations with China will harm Lithuania's long-term and fundamental interests."
Qiu further criticized Lithuania for losing diplomatic independence. He claimed, "Lithuania sided with a certain country (the United States) at their command," and argued that the value-oriented diplomacy promoted by them (the Western camp) is hypocritical.
Qiu cited the refugee issue at the Belarus border as an example. He pointed out, "Some Lithuanian politicians are inciting a boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics by raising human rights issues," while the Lithuanian government and politicians remain silent about the refugee suppression in the border area. Qiu hinted at further retaliation, saying that acts undermining the bilateral political foundation will damage Lithuania's fundamental interests.
Chui Hongjian, Director of the European Studies Institute at the China Institute of International Studies, stated, "The excrement of one rat should not ruin the entire pot of porridge," and argued, "Retaliation is necessary so that the mistakes of a small country like Lithuania do not affect the pattern of cooperation between China and Europe."
Sun Keqin, a researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, analyzed, "Lithuania is a small country rarely mentioned in the international community, but it has suddenly attracted international attention due to its provocation on the Taiwan issue," and said, "Some Lithuanian politicians made a dangerous decision to maximize their political interests."
However, questions about the effectiveness of China's economic retaliation have been raised, given that trade and commerce between the two countries are not large enough for Lithuania to suffer significant economic damage.
First, the trade volume between the two countries is not large. Lithuania's main trading partner is Russia. As of 2020, Lithuania's major export markets were Russia (13.4%), Latvia (9.3%), Germany (8.1%), and Poland (6.4%). Its main import countries were Poland (13.1%), Germany (12.8%), Russia (9.1%), and Latvia (7.8%).
Chinese media have reported that bilateral trade surged significantly from $1.351 billion in 2015 to $2.29 billion last year, but the trade volume between the two countries remains modest. China is known to import timber, frozen beef, feed, seafood, and wheat from Lithuania.
Some speculate that China might pressure Lithuania through Russia, Lithuania's largest trading partner.
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