Q: On 27 August, Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees of 13 European and US Parliaments issued a joint statement, welcoming Lithuania's intention to develop "economic relations" with Taiwan, criticizing China's aggressive behavior and its political, diplomatic and economic pressure on Lithuania, calling on their governments, the EU and other allies to extend full support to Lithuania. What is your comment?

A:As a widely recognized norm in international relations, the One-China principle is an international consensus and the political foundation for China to develop bilateral relations with countries and organizations including Lithuania. Those countries have made solemn commitments to follow the One-China principle in the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations when they established diplomatic relations with China. The Lithuanian Government's announcement to allow the Taiwan authorities to open a "representative office" under the name of "Taiwanese" is a flagrant violation of the spirit of the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania. It also severely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese Government firmly opposes this move.

The rights and wrongs of the diplomatic turmoil between China and Lithuania are very clear. China's firm and necessary response to Lithuania's act that undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity is fully justifiable and reasonable. Some people pretend to be ignorant and deliberately neglect the wrongdoings of the Lithuanian, while making accusations against China's act of justice on safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. What is the real intention of such a wrongful act, which blatantly violates the norms of international relations?

We urge the Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee of  Lithuanian Seimas and other signatories to uphold international fairness and justice, as well as the commitment of their government to follow the One-China principle on Taiwan issue, be constructive  to the bilateral relations between China and Lithuania and the well-being of their peoples, be prudent on word and act, and refrain from making misleading statements and sending wrong signals to the Taiwan secessionist forces.

Taiwan issue is a matter of China's core interests and national feelings. The Chinese people's determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is also ironclad, and our will to realize the reunification of China at an earlier date is indestructible.

China has noted the positive attitude of the Lithuanian government of following the One-China principle and its willingness to work with China in resolving the issue of the establishment of the Taiwan "representative office", and hopes that the Lithuanian government take concrete actions to correct its mistake.