Beijing China January 7 ANI Lithuania has reportedly blocked a railway contract with a China-owned company due to the growing tension between Vilnius and Beijing over the opening of Taiwan's mission in the Baltic nation.
Lithuania has blocked a railway contract with a Chinese firm. Global Times said in a tweet that China was accused of economic coercion.
The tensions between China and the Baltic nation have raged when Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius, equivalent to an embassy in November. In recent times, it escalated after Lithuania took steps to strengthen ties with Taiwan. China considers Taiwan an integral part.
According to a report, Lithuania needs the support of the West and other foreign powers to counter Chinese aggression, as it seems to be struggling almost alone against one of the world's economic and political superpowers.
According to the Hong Kong Post, Lithuania finds itself at the forefront of countries that identify China as the greatest threat, as it dared to oppose Chinese President Xi Jinping's autocracy and Beijing's aggressive behavior.
The Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania was opened with the name Taiwan Representative Office, implying the recognition of a legal entity separate from the mainland.
Beijing attacked Lithuania by lowering its diplomatic relations with them.
This month, Beijing also demanded that Lithuanian officials surrender their identity documents in order to downgrade their diplomatic status. The demand was so serious for Lithuania that Vilnius withdrew its remaining diplomats from China in mid-December, fearing for their safety.