BEIJING: China's foreign ministry has imposed sanctions on Lithuanian Deputy Transport and Communications Minister Agne Vaiciukeviciute over a visit to the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan.

In a statement released on Friday, it said that "the visit tramples on the one-China principle, significantly meddles in China's domestic affairs, and challenges China's sovereignty and territorial integrity". The foreign ministry also stated that China would halt all communications with her ministry and stop working with Lithuania on transportation.

It did not specify the sanctions in detail, but it did state that all communication with the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Lithuania would also be halted. Vaiciukeviciute landed in Taipei on August 7 for a visit despite the present hostilities.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi recently visited Taiwan, prompting China to launch extensive military drills surrounding the island last week, including mock invasions.

Beijing also also imposed unspecified sanctions on Pelosi "and her immediate family members". The Chinese government disapproves of official communication with Taiwan because it sees the island as a part of its own territory. Taiwan, meanwhile, has long viewed itself as independent. Lithuania and China have also recently experienced tensions.

Beijing downgraded its diplomatic ties with the Baltic EU state after it permitted Taiwan to create a representative office in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, under its own name rather than one Beijing had sought, such Chinese Taipei or simply Taipei.

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