Australia, Lithuania unite against Chinese economic coercion

Australian and Lithuanian foreign ministers have called on like-minded countries to join forces against Chinese economic coercion

CANBERRA, Australia -- Australian and Lithuanian foreign ministers on Wednesday called on like-minded countries to join forces against Chinese economic coercion.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis visited his Australian counterpart Marise Payne at Parliament House where they agreed to increase cooperation on strategic challenges and opposing coercive economic practices.

Australia and Lithuania have become conspicuous examples of the economic damage that can come with raising China’s ire.

“For quite a while, Australia was probably one of the main examples where China is using economy and trade as a political instrument or, one might say, even as a political weapon,” Landsbergis said.