Beijing protests Lithuania’s decision to allow a diplomatic office in Vilnius using the name Taiwan, leading to a downgrade in relations.

China has officially downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania following the Baltic country’s decision to allow Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in its capital, Vilnius. The diplomatic office, which openly used the name “Taiwan,” marked a significant shift from Lithuania’s previous stance and defied Beijing’s pressure to isolate the self-ruled island.

In a statement, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the move, asserting that Lithuania’s actions had violated international norms and jeopardized China’s sovereignty. The ministry confirmed that bilateral relations between the two nations would be reduced to the “charge d’affaires” level, a significant diplomatic downgrade.

China’s government has long been sensitive to any form of official recognition of Taiwan, viewing it as part of its territory and warning against any actions that could confer international legitimacy to the island. Beijing emphasized that Lithuania had violated the One China policy, which requires countries to recognize the Chinese government over Taiwan’s.