VILNIUS: Latvia and Estonia withdrew from a cooperation group in China on Thursday, despite threats of dire consequences if the US pursues a political stand on the Taiwan issue. Baltic neighbor Lithuania withdrew last year from the cooperation group consisting of China and more than a dozen Central and Eastern European countries. The move comes amid continued criticism of China from Western countries for increasing military pressure on democratically-ruled Taiwan. China claims Taiwan to be its territory. Beijing has also strengthened ties with Russia by supporting Russia during its attack on Ukraine.
According to the news agency Reuters news, relations between Lithuania and China deteriorated after Taiwan was allowed to open its embassy at the end of last year. While the Foreign Ministry of Latvia said that the continuation of the country’s participation in the China Cooperation Group is not in line with our strategic objectives in the current international environment. Significantly, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned other countries not to follow America’s political stance on Taiwan. The Chinese foreign minister threatened that the consequences of doing so could be dire.
In statements published on Thursday, both Latvia and Estonia said they would continue to work towards a constructive and pragmatic relationship with China while respecting a rules-based international order and human rights. Estonia’s foreign ministry did not comment further on the matter. While Chinese embassies in Riga, Latvia, and Tallinn did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.
Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia are among the countries that remain in the China Cooperation Organization. However, following a voice within the country’s parliament for leaving the group, the Czech Republic’s foreign ministry said in May that the promise of large-scale Chinese investment and mutually beneficial trade was not being fulfilled.
