China condemns Lithuania for expelling diplomats amid tensions

In a significant diplomatic exchange, China expressed strong condemnation towards Lithuania after the Baltic nation declared three Chinese diplomats as persona non grata. This decision, announced on a Friday prior to the report, requires the diplomats to leave Lithuania within a week. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry did not disclose the identities of the expelled diplomats or the reasons behind the action, citing adherence to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and relevant international laws. This diplomatic spat coincides with ongoing investigations into a Chinese ship's suspected involvement in damaging undersea data cables linking Lithuania to Sweden, which adds another layer of tension to their relations. The incident also sheds light on the broader context of Lithuania's relationship with China, particularly following Lithuania’s decision three years prior to allow Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius, a move that led China to downgrade diplomatic relations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused Lithuania of taking detrimental actions that worsen bilateral ties and warned that China's sovereignty and territorial integrity were being undermined. The repeated confrontations raise questions about the future of diplomatic engagements between China and Lithuania, as well as the impacts of international political struggles on smaller nations caught in the middle of larger geopolitical conflicts.