Because of Taiwan dispute, China has banned beef from Lithuania
Key Takeaways:
- The latest escalation between the two countries over Lithuania's support for Taiwan has resulted in a ban on beef imports from Lithuania.
- According to Reuters, Chinese customs usually halt meat imports when exporting nations report disease outbreaks in livestock.
China has charged a ban on beef imports from Lithuania, the latest escalation between the two countries over Lithuania's support for Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a breakaway region.
The ban, which took effect on Wednesday, was imposed without China's General Administration of Customs explanation.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not directly answer the move but said Lithuania should "correct" its error and return to the "one China" principle.
As per Chinese customs data, China imported only 775 tonnes of beef from Lithuania in 2021, out of 2.36 million tonnes of beef imports that year.
According to Reuters, when exporting countries report disease outbreaks in livestock, Chinese customs typically halt meat imports.
According to the report, Lithuania has not recently reported any animal disease to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Taiwan was granted permission to open a "Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania" in Vilnius on November 18, with around 2.8 million people. China retaliated by downgrading Lithuania's diplomatic relations.
China considers Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, to be its territory, and it opposes the island's diplomatic relations with a third country.
"Rather than conflating right and wrong and slandering China, Lithuania should face the facts, correct its own mistakes, and return to the right track of adhering to the one-China principle." "Lithuania should stop courting other countries to unite against China," Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said on Thursday.
Zhao responded to Lithuania's foreign minister's statement about alleged human rights violations in China. Lithuania should represent its human rights violations and correct its discriminatory practices against ethnic minorities.
According to Reuters, China is the world's largest importer of beef, but shipments from Lithuania are insignificant.