The Baltic Times
Date:  2020-04-29
By:  BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – The Chinese ambassador has said a recent call by several hundred Lithuanian politicians, science and public figures to support at the highest political level Taiwan’s involvement in the World Health Organization is "an open provocation to the principle of one China".

"I highly appreciate the present position of Lithuania that is very precautious, skillful in handling this and putting cooperation with Taiwan people at the technical, expert level, and practical cooperation, economic, cultural and charity, many other areas. But, officially, the Chinese government is the only government representing the whole of China, including Taiwan people. So, of course, as your some members of the Seimas and those two hundred people support Taiwan's involvement in the WHO and other United Nations bodies and organizations, this is a very official acton and the Chinese government is firmly opposed because it is an open provocation to the principle of one China," Ambassador Shen Zhifei told in an interview with the delfi.lt news website.

His comment came in response to a letter signed last week by 50 Lithuanian lawmakers and over 100 representatives of culture and science and calling on the president to support, at the highest political level, Taiwan’s involvement in the World Health Organization's activity.

The authors of the open letter are calling on President Nauseda to support "at the highest political level, Taiwan’s involvement in the World Health Organization meetings, activities and mechanisms (including the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN) and to support its full participation in the World Health Assembly".    [FULL  STORY]