China warns Lithuania over Taiwan representative office

Beijing: China on Tuesday called upon Lithuania to strictly abide by the so-called “one China” principle and not send false signals to supporters of Taiwan’s independence.
What has angered China is Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu’s announcement that the island will open a representative office in Vilnius as part of the strategy to expand and deepen relations with countries “in the EU and throughout Europe.” Earlier in July, Lithuanian Economy Minister Ausrine Armonaite had said that Vilnius plans to open a trade representative office in Taiwan in the fall.
China has no taken kindly to this development, Sputnik quoted Deputy Director of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department Zhao Lijian as saying.
“China strongly opposes any official contacts between Lithuania and Taiwan, opposes the mutual opening of so-called representative offices between them. We call on the Lithuanian side to adhere to the one-China policy, to respect the pledges made during the establishment of diplomatic relations. We also warn the Taiwanese authorities that Taiwan’s independence is a dead end,”.
Beijing claims the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous country and has political and economic relations with several other nations.