China Demands Lithuania Recall Envoy

China on Tuesday demanded that Lithuania recall its ambassador in Beijing in a row over Taiwan.

China has also decided to recall its envoy to the Baltic state.

"Recently, the Lithuanian Government, in disregard of China's repeated representations and articulation of potential consequences, has announced its decision to allow the Taiwan authorities to open a 'representative office' under the name of 'Taiwan'. The decision brazenly violates the spirit of the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania and severely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said.

The spokesperson also warned the Taiwan authorities "that 'Taiwan independence' is a dead end and any attempt at separatist activities in the international arena is doomed to fail."