Bloomberg: The US and Lithuania have agreed to cooperate on ways to counter what they call China’s “economic coercion.” In addition, Taiwan pledged to establish a $200 million fund to invest in Lithuania and open up its markets to the nation. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?
Wang Wenbin: You just mentioned “coercion”. The first thing I want to tell you is that the US fabricates lies and makes trouble with Xinjiang-related issues and pressures multinational companies to take sides. This is nothing if not coercive diplomacy. The ins and outs of the Taiwan-related issues on the part of Lithuania are very clear. The US has repeatedly defended Lithuania’s wrong words and deeds to create the impression of “one China, one Taiwan”, and tried to cobble together a clique that emboldens the “Taiwan independence” forces. These moves further expose the US’ scheme to use Taiwan to contain China, which will only tarnish its international image and be self-defeating.
We urge the US side to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US Joint Communiqués. We also have this stern warning for the Taiwan authorities. “Dollar diplomacy” cannot change the trend that “Taiwan independence” forces are doomed to collapse and soliciting foreign support will prove a dead end.
(Source: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on January 6, 2022)