The United States has expressed “ironclad U.S. solidarity” with Lithuania in its pushback against Beijing—diplomatically and economically—amid souring bilateral relations.
During a phone call with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte on Dec. 21, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted troubling public reports that Chinese customs authorities have refused to import or clear goods from the Baltic nation, according to the State Department.
“The Secretary underscored that such measures would raise serious concerns, including under international trade principles, and appear to constitute a form of economic coercion,” the statement reads.
Simonyte thanked Blinken over the phone for the support and solidarity of the United States.
The Baltic nation’s regional and economic stability is facing challenges from the Chinese regime for allowing self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as a runaway province, to open a de facto embassy in its capital Vilnius. In response, the regime recalled its ambassador in August before downgrading the diplomatic relations and expelled Lithuania’s top representative to China in November.
Beijing has imposed a trade embargo over Lithuanian exports and imports, and has threatened multinationals to sever ties with Lithuania or face being shut out of the Chinese market. For example, the Asian economic power has told Continental AG, the German car parts giant, to stop using Lithuanian-made components.
Lithuania, a member state of the European Union and Eurozone, has won U.S. support in its financial dispute with China.
The Baltic nation earlier this month joined the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
