Lithuania Expels Chinese Diplomats Amid Rising Tensions

Lithuania has expelled three staff members from China’s diplomatic office, citing violations of the Vienna Convention and Lithuanian law, according to its foreign ministry. The diplomats must leave within a week, further straining relations between the two nations. Tensions have escalated since Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in 2021, prompting China to downgrade ties and pressure global firms to isolate the Baltic state. The move follows concerns of potential Chinese interference in Lithuanian elections and suspicions of a Chinese ship damaging undersea cables linking Lithuania and Sweden. China has not commented on the expulsion.