NationStates

China threatened to send Lithuania to the 'garbage bin of history' after it stood up to Beijing by strengthening ties with Taiwan

China threatened to consign the tiny European state of Lithuania to "the garbage bin of history" after it defied Beijing by allowing Taiwan to open a representative office in the capital of Vilnius.

Lithuania, which has a population of 3 million, broke from its European neighbors by formally recognizing Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims belongs to it.

In August, Lithuania said it would allow Taiwan to open an office in its own name, prompting fury from Beijing, which recalled its ambassador to Lithuania in response. It also downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania.

In recent years, the prospect has loomed large of China invading Taiwan to take it by force, escalating its decades-long economic and diplomatic dispute with the nation.

A report in the Global Times, a Chinese state-run newspaper, said that Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters this week that "Lithuania stands on the opposite side of universal principles, which will never end well."

Zhao also warned that "those who insist on acting in collusion with Taiwan secessionist forces will eventually be swept into the garbage bin of history."

Taiwan opened the representation office in Vilnius in November, which Lithuania agreed would bear the name Taiwan rather than Chinese Taipei. Many other countries and international organizations refer to Taiwan by that name to avoid offending Beijing.

China refuses to give diplomatic recognition to countries that characterize Taiwan as independent. Just 15 countries have a formal diplomatic alliance as a result of this pressure from China.

Lithuania may pay a heavy economic price for its decision. The country is bracing for a corporate boycott after China told multinationals to sever ties with Lithuania or risk being shut out of the lucrative Chinese market, Reuters reported in December.

The Global Times report said Lithuania had become increasingly economically dependent on China in recent years. It suggested that trade between the two countries would decrease in future.

TL;DR: Lithuania let Taiwan open a diplomatic office in Vilnius under the name "Taiwan" rather than "Chinese Taipei". Chinese Beijing shits themselves with anger.

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I have to say I'm glad that Lithuania decided to stand up to China, a path that many in Western Europe seem unwilling to take. The article mentions that the Lithuanians might see trade restrictions imposed on them, but hopefully their EU membership shields them from that somewhat. Given trends, its unlikely that other countries will follow suit but with the diplomatic controversies surrounding the 2022 Olympics who knows?

The UN recognizing the PRC was the dumbest thing they ever did.

First Russia, now China.

All we need now is North Korea to make some big threat and we'll have the communist trifecta on our bingo ballot.

PRC's decision made no sense, cuz you can't throw a country to garbage bin of history.

Dominykas.

Get the wings.

I find it amusing that China is having such an identity crisis to the point they have to threaten a small (relatively that is) Baltic nation to maintain their image.

I for one look forward to chad Lithuania heralding the doom of the virgin PRC.

I hope it wont end bad for lithuania. It is a small country compared to China but it has the help of the EU

FNU wrote:I find it amusing that China is having such an identity crisis to the point they have to threaten a small (relatively that is) Baltic nation to maintain their image.

I had the same thought lmao.

Of course, we all know which of the two nations has a bigger parcel, if ya catch my drift ( ͡°( ͡° ͜ʖ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ʖ ͡°) ͡°)

Esternial wrote:First Russia, now China.

All we need now is North Korea to make some big threat and we'll have the communist trifecta on our bingo ballot.

Russia is not communist.

FNU wrote:I find it amusing that China is having such an identity crisis to the point they have to threaten a small (relatively that is) Baltic nation to maintain their image.

Lithuania has indicated its complete disregard for China's sovereignty with its actions. Why should China not retaliate?

Western Fardelshufflestein wrote:

FNU wrote:I find it amusing that China is having such an identity crisis to the point they have to threaten a small (relatively that is) Baltic nation to maintain their image.

I had the same thought lmao.

Of course, we all know which of the two nations has a bigger parcel, if ya catch my drift ( ͡°( ͡° ͜ʖ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ʖ ͡°) ͡°)

Lithuania, bunch of lads.

The Huskar Social Union wrote:Lithuania, bunch of lads.

Well, you can't spell "Lithuania" without "Lit."

I'm just gonna hazard a guess they're boycotting the Olympics. You know, so their athletes don't die in "accidents."

Nationalist Northumbria wrote:

FNU wrote:I find it amusing that China is having such an identity crisis to the point they have to threaten a small (relatively that is) Baltic nation to maintain their image.

Lithuania has indicated its complete disregard for China's sovereignty with its actions. Why should China not retaliate?

My question to you is what the hell can China do to Lithuania? They can't exactly go marching troops through Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus without meeting some level of pushback. Economic sanctioning or blockading doesn't make any sense on the Chinese behalf, considering that they'd have a hell of a time maintaining a blockading fleet in the Baltic, and that Lithuania isn't exactly economically reliant on China. If they fly aircraft over Lithuania that would just annoy any nearby neighbors (i.e. Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia, possibly Poland). All they can do is angrily wave their fist and maybe ask Russia to find a way to slap Lithuania's wrist.

The noble defenders of Taiwan, Lithuania…

Esternial wrote:First Russia, now China.

All we need now is North Korea to make some big threat and we'll have the communist trifecta on our bingo ballot.

My favorite kind of communist trifecta is an authoritarian democracy, an authoritarian capitalist state, and a monarchy.

Nationalist Northumbria wrote:

Esternial wrote:First Russia, now China.

All we need now is North Korea to make some big threat and we'll have the communist trifecta on our bingo ballot.

Russia is not communist.

FNU wrote:I find it amusing that China is having such an identity crisis to the point they have to threaten a small (relatively that is) Baltic nation to maintain their image.

Lithuania has indicated its complete disregard for China's sovereignty with its actions. Why should China not retaliate?

No idea what you mean, Lithuania just opened an embassy with China.

Heloin wrote:The noble defenders of Taiwan, Lithuania…

Esternial wrote:First Russia, now China.

All we need now is North Korea to make some big threat and we'll have the communist trifecta on our bingo ballot.

My favorite kind of communist trifecta is an authoritarian democracy, an authoritarian capitalist state, and a monarchy.

I am literally begging people at this point to learn what Communism actually is I stg.

Genivaria wrote:

Nationalist Northumbria wrote:Russia is not communist.


Lithuania has indicated its complete disregard for China's sovereignty with its actions. Why should China not retaliate?

No idea what you mean, Lithuania just opened an embassy with China.

Correct.

FNU wrote:

Nationalist Northumbria wrote:Lithuania has indicated its complete disregard for China's sovereignty with its actions. Why should China not retaliate?

My question to you is what the hell can China do to Lithuania? They can't exactly go marching troops through Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus without meeting some level of pushback. Economic sanctioning or blockading doesn't make any sense on the Chinese behalf, considering that they'd have a hell of a time maintaining a blockading fleet in the Baltic, and that Lithuania isn't exactly economically reliant on China. If they fly aircraft over Lithuania that would just annoy any nearby neighbors (i.e. Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia, possibly Poland). All they can do is angrily wave their fist and maybe ask Russia to find a way to slap Lithuania's wrist.

Sorry, why would any of the things you mentioned happen? China taking military action against Lithuania is as outlandish as China landing on the moon and revealing to the world it's made of cheese. Sanctions and blockades are not remotely the same thing, by the way. For a start, one is an act of war. As for what China can do, it's stated in the OP - "the country is bracing for a corporate boycott after China told multinationals to sever ties with Lithuania or risk being shut out of the lucrative Chinese market, Reuters reported in December."

The North Polish Union wrote:China threatened to send Lithuania to the 'garbage bin of history' after it stood up to Beijing by strengthening ties with Taiwan

China threatened to consign the tiny European state of Lithuania to "the garbage bin of history" after it defied Beijing by allowing Taiwan to open a representative office in the capital of Vilnius.

Lithuania, which has a population of 3 million, broke from its European neighbors by formally recognizing Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims belongs to it.

In August, Lithuania said it would allow Taiwan to open an office in its own name, prompting fury from Beijing, which recalled its ambassador to Lithuania in response. It also downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania.

In recent years, the prospect has loomed large of China invading Taiwan to take it by force, escalating its decades-long economic and diplomatic dispute with the nation.

A report in the Global Times, a Chinese state-run newspaper, said that Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters this week that "Lithuania stands on the opposite side of universal principles, which will never end well."

Zhao also warned that "those who insist on acting in collusion with Taiwan secessionist forces will eventually be swept into the garbage bin of history."

Taiwan opened the representation office in Vilnius in November, which Lithuania agreed would bear the name Taiwan rather than Chinese Taipei. Many other countries and international organizations refer to Taiwan by that name to avoid offending Beijing.

China refuses to give diplomatic recognition to countries that characterize Taiwan as independent. Just 15 countries have a formal diplomatic alliance as a result of this pressure from China.

Lithuania may pay a heavy economic price for its decision. The country is bracing for a corporate boycott after China told multinationals to sever ties with Lithuania or risk being shut out of the lucrative Chinese market, Reuters reported in December.

The Global Times report said Lithuania had become increasingly economically dependent on China in recent years. It suggested that trade between the two countries would decrease in future.

TL;DR: Lithuania let Taiwan open a diplomatic office in Vilnius under the name "Taiwan" rather than "Chinese Taipei". Chinese Beijing shits themselves with anger.

---

I have to say I'm glad that Lithuania decided to stand up to China, a path that many in Western Europe seem unwilling to take. The article mentions that the Lithuanians might see trade restrictions imposed on them, but hopefully their EU membership shields them from that somewhat. Given trends, its unlikely that other countries will follow suit but with the diplomatic controversies surrounding the 2022 Olympics who knows?

That's actually a pretty funny statement

Nationalist Northumbria wrote:

FNU wrote:My question to you is what the hell can China do to Lithuania? They can't exactly go marching troops through Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus without meeting some level of pushback. Economic sanctioning or blockading doesn't make any sense on the Chinese behalf, considering that they'd have a hell of a time maintaining a blockading fleet in the Baltic, and that Lithuania isn't exactly economically reliant on China. If they fly aircraft over Lithuania that would just annoy any nearby neighbors (i.e. Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia, possibly Poland). All they can do is angrily wave their fist and maybe ask Russia to find a way to slap Lithuania's wrist.

Sorry, why would any of the things you mentioned happen? China taking military action against Lithuania is as outlandish as China landing on the moon and revealing to the world it's made of cheese. Sanctions and blockades are not remotely the same thing, by the way. For a start, one is an act of war. As for what China can do, it's stated in the OP - "the country is bracing for a corporate boycott after China told multinationals to sever ties with Lithuania or risk being shut out of the lucrative Chinese market, Reuters reported in December."

It says alot that the PRC is threatened by such a tiny country.

Heloin wrote:The noble defenders of Taiwan, Lithuania…

Esternial wrote:First Russia, now China.

All we need now is North Korea to make some big threat and we'll have the communist trifecta on our bingo ballot.

My favorite kind of communist trifecta is an authoritarian democracy, an authoritarian capitalist state, and a monarchy.

DPRK isn't a monarchy but yeah otherwise it's an outlandish statement

Genivaria wrote:It says alot that the PRC is threatened by such a tiny country.

Less so threatened and more disrespected. A country isn't going to get scared that another country is supporting their insurgent problem, unless said country is very powerful.

But what they will see is an obvious demonstration of diplomatic disrespect.

Xi is bat crap crazy.

Y3K Earth wrote:

Heloin wrote:The noble defenders of Taiwan, Lithuania…


My favorite kind of communist trifecta is an authoritarian democracy, an authoritarian capitalist state, and a monarchy.

DPRK isn't a monarchy but yeah otherwise it's an outlandish statement

You're right it's a necrocracy. It has a dead 'eternal leader'.