In a recent interview with French media, the Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, asked why China did not cut diplomatic ties with Lithuania, “whether it was because of fear of the EU’s reaction.”
Lithuania announced last year that it would accept the establishment of a representative office in Taiwan’s name, angering Beijing and downgrading diplomatic relations between the two sides, but it did not cut diplomatic ties directly with Lithuania. In an exclusive interview on January 17, France24 asked Lu Shaye a pointed question about this. Is Beijing afraid that the severance of diplomatic ties will have consequences at the EU level?
According to the news released on the official website of the Chinese Embassy in France, Lu Shaye replied, “It is not a question of whether or not to be afraid, but to express firm opposition to Lithuania’s blatant violation of the one-China principle. He also expressed his hope that the Lithuanian government will correct its mistakes and return to Take the correct stand of adhering to the one-China principle.”
France’s Channel 24 continued to ask, saying that there is news that Taiwan is negotiating a bilateral investment agreement with the EU. If the agreement is reached, will it touch China’s red line? Lu Shaye only emphasized that “China firmly opposes the official exchanges between countries and organizations that have established diplomatic relations with China and the Taiwan authorities” and “opposes the actions of the Taiwan authorities to undermine the relationship between the Chinese mainland and the European Union.”