Published by
Reuters
Reuters
By Norihiko Shirouzu and Andrius Sytas BEIJING/VILNIUS (Reuters) – China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania on Sunday, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the Baltic State after Taiwan opened a de facto embassy there, escalating a row that has sucked in Washington. China views self-ruled and democratically governed Taiwan as its territory with no right to the trappings of a state and has stepped up pressure on countries to downgrade or sever their relations with the island, even non-official ones. Lithuania expressed regret over China’s move but defended its right to expand coope…