China Notifies Lithuania Embassy Downgrade to Representative Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] China has officially notified Lithuania of its decision to downgrade the name of the Chinese diplomatic mission in Lithuania from 'Embassy' to 'Representative Office' as a protest against Lithuania allowing the establishment of a Taiwan representative office.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing on the 26th, "The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally notified the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the decision to rename the Chinese diplomatic mission in Lithuania as the 'Representative Office of the People's Republic of China in Lithuania'."

According to China's classification of diplomatic representative offices, the highest level is the Embassy, followed by the Consulate, and the lowest is the Representative Office. Spokesperson Zhao demanded that "Lithuania correspondingly change the name of the Chinese diplomatic mission stationed in Lithuania."

He also emphasized, "China's recent action is a legitimate countermeasure against Lithuania's infringement on China's sovereignty, and the responsibility lies entirely with Lithuania." In July, Lithuania became the first European country to open a Taiwan representative office in its capital, Vilnius.