China Warns of Retaliation After Lithuania Expels Diplomats

Tensions escalate as Lithuania cites violations of international law and investigates suspected Chinese involvement in Baltic Sea cable damage.

Lithuania expelled three Chinese diplomats, citing violations of the Vienna Convention and national legislation, though specific details were not disclosed.
China condemned the expulsions as provocative and baseless, warning of potential countermeasures against Lithuania.
The expulsions follow an investigation into the severing of undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea, with a Chinese ship suspected of involvement.
China has denied responsibility for the cable damage but expressed willingness to cooperate in the investigation led by Lithuania, Sweden, and Finland.
Relations between China and Lithuania have been strained since 2021, when Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office under its own name, defying Beijing's one-China principle.