Q: During the press conference following the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on January 14, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the member states criticized China’s coercion and the roll-out of EU’s anti-coercion instrument would be sped up during the French presidency. HRVP Josep Borrell said member states expressed clear solidarity with Lithuania. How do you respond to that?

A: We have always maintained that the dispute between China and Lithuania is a bilateral one. The ins and outs of the matter are very clear. Lithuania insisted on allowing the establishment in Lithuania of the “Representative Office” bearing the name of Taiwan. This act blatantly created the false impression of “one China, one Taiwan” in the world, and gravely undermined the political foundation of China-Lithuania diplomatic relations as well as the atmosphere of practical and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. China is firm in defending its legitimate rights and interests and the response is justified, legitimate and necessary. We have never used coercion against any country and we oppose all forms of political and diplomatic coercion.