Lithuania said on Friday it was expelling three Chinese embassy staff as ties between the Baltic country and Beijing fray over Taiwan support and the suspected involvement of a Chinese ship in sea cables damage.

Two Baltic Sea telecommunications cables were severed earlier this month in Swedish territorial waters, including one running from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania.

Suspicions have been directed at a Chinese ship -- the Yi Peng 3 -- which tracking sites said had sailed over the cables around the time they were cut.

On Friday, Lithuania's foreign ministry said in a statement that three Chinese staff members "have been declared undesirable in the country".

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The ministry did not give the precise reasons for the expulsion, citing only "activities which violate the Vienna Convention and the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania".

On Wednesday, Lithuania said it was setting up a joint team with Sweden and Finland to investigate the damaged cables, with the support of Eurojust, the European Union's agency for criminal justice cooperation.

China has denied any responsibility in the matter and said Friday it was "willing to work" with a probe.

Ties between Vilnius and Beijing had already been tense after Lithuania in 2021 allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy under the island's name.

It marked a departure from the common diplomatic practice of using the name of the capital Taipei to avoid angering China, which claims the island as part of its territory.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Lithuania said on Friday it was expelling three Chinese embassy staff as ties between the Baltic country and Beijing fray over Taiwan support and the suspected involvement of a Chinese ship in sea cables damage.

Lithuania said on Friday it was expelling three Chinese embassy staff as ties between the Baltic country and Beijing fray over Taiwan support and the suspected involvement of a Chinese ship in sea cables damage. Two Baltic Sea telecommunications cables were severed earlier this month in Swedish territorial waters, including one running from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania. Suspicions have been directed at a Chinese ship -- the Yi Peng 3 -- which tracking sites said had sailed over the cables around the time they were cut. On Friday, Lithuania's foreign ministry said in a statement that three Chinese staff members "have been declared undesirable in the country". Also Read | Xi suspends China’s powerful military official as purge campaign intensifies The ministry did not give the precise reasons for the expulsion, citing only "activities which violate the Vienna Convention and the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania". On Wednesday, Lithuania said it was setting up a joint team with Sweden and Finland to investigate the damaged cables, with the support of Eurojust, the European Union's agency for criminal justice cooperation. China has denied any responsibility in the matter and said Friday it was "willing to work" with a probe. Ties between Vilnius and Beijing had already been tense after Lithuania in 2021 allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy under the island's name. It marked a departure from the common diplomatic practice of using the name of the capital Taipei to avoid angering China, which claims the island as part of its territory. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

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Lithuania kicks out three Chinese embassy staff amidst tensions over Taiwan

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