Lithuanian govt faces growing domestic opposition over anti-China policy

[superadmin]

Growing opposition among Lithuanian politicians is tearing apart its government over the country's wrong move of allowing the opening of a "Taiwan representative office," with the opposition party leader urging its foreign minister to step down, and Chinese observers said that the opposition will dominate politics in the Baltic country and may eventually change the name of the office.

Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomenas said the Foreign Ministry failed to predict China's strong response to such anti-China policy, saying that before deepening ties with the Taiwan region, the Foreign Ministry considered possible "retaliation" from China, but did not expect Beijing to go after Lithuania's trading partners in Europe, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reported on Monday.

Also on Monday, Vilija Blinkeviciute, leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party (LSDP), said Lithuania, in cooperation with EU members and international partners, could consider renaming the representative office to reduce tensions with China. She urged Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to step down, saying the reckless decision to clash with China was a big mistake that all Lithuanian people are paying for, local media reported.

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