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Lithuania’s international minister is asking the EU to intervene on its behalf as China steps up political and financial stress in opposition to the Baltic nation in a diplomatic dispute over relations with Taiwan.
In a letter to EU Commerce Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and the bloc’s international coverage chief Josep Borrell on Monday, Gabrielius Landsbergis stated China was elevating “unacceptable” financial stress “to an unprecedentedly excessive degree.”
He confirmed within the letter seen by POLITICO that Lithuanian exporters are now not capable of enter the Chinese language market, with the nation’s identify wiped off China’s customs clearance checklist.
“It’s arduous to not see that these current measures by the Folks’s Republic of China are a continuation of the politically motivated financial coercion that Lithuania haas been going through since August 2021.”
“These actions by the PRC authorities in opposition to one EU Member State have a direct influence on the whole EU and our widespread commerce coverage,” Landsbergis wrote. “I might kindly ask you to intervene with the Chinese language authorities on behalf of Lithuania with the goal of resolving the current state of affairs.”
Stressing the significance of “EU unity and solidarity,” he added: “A robust response is critical on the EU degree with a purpose to ship a sign to China that politically motivated financial stress is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated.”
The EU has been dragged into a troublesome spot with Beijing over Lithuania.
The Baltic nation has been hit by Chinese language financial sanctions after it accepted Taiwan’s supply to open a brand new diplomatic workplace in Vilnius. Beijing subsequently downgraded its diplomatic presence in Vilnius.
Lithuania additionally stop the Beijing-led 17+1 grouping, a diplomatic discussion board through which China engages with Central and Japanese European nations.
This text is a part of POLITICO’s premium coverage service Professional Commerce. From transatlantic commerce wars to the U.Okay.’s future buying and selling relationship with the EU and remainder of the world, Professional Commerce provides you the perception you want to plan your subsequent transfer. E mail [email protected] for a complimentary trial.
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