Lithuania warns of Chinese intelligence targeting its citizens

VILNIUS - Lithuanian intelligence on Friday warned citizens residing in or traveling to China about increasing security risks.

Heightened bilateral tensions almost certainly increase the motivation of Beijing’s intelligence services to collect information on Lithuanian citizens living in China and use it for espionage or political pressure, the agencies said.

"It is highly likely that Chinese intelligence services initiate meetings with Lithuanian citizens living in the country, attempting to ascertain their connections, political views, circumstances of life in China, and attitudes towards Taiwan," the national security threat assessment presented by the State Security Department and the Second Investigation Department stated.

"This information helps Chinese intelligence services identify the vulnerabilities of Lithuanian citizens, with the aim of involving them in clandestine activities against Lithuanian interests," the assessment added.

Vilnius and Beijing have been at odds for several years over restoring diplomatic representation in both countries, following a dispute over the name of the Taiwanese Representative Office.

Since mid-May last year, there have been no accredited Chinese diplomats or other personnel in Lithuania. Bilateral trade also significantly declined after the opening of the Taiwanese Representative Office in 2021.

The Social Democrat-led government has declared its intention to restore diplomatic representation with China, calling the decision a few years ago to allow the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius to be established under that name "reckless."

According to Lithuanian intelligence, Chinese services may consider individuals who express dissatisfaction with decisions made by the Lithuanian government as suitable recruitment targets. Citizens whose residence permit in China is particularly important due to business, academic, or family circumstances may also become targets.

According to the State Security Department and the Second Investigation Department, it is highly likely that when initiating meetings with Lithuanian citizens living in China, intelligence services use cover, for example, posing as police officers or representatives of migration institutions.

The State Security Department and the Second Investigation Department said it is highly likely that Chinese intelligence services use cover when initiating meetings with Lithuanian citizens, posing, for example, as police officers or representatives of migration institutions.

The threat assessment also states that Lithuanian citizens on short-term visits to China, such as those attending academic, business, or cultural events, face increased security risks.

"Contact with individuals arriving in China may be established as early as the airport, for example, during security checks. Chinese intelligence representatives may pose as border control officers or airport staff," the intelligence services indicated.

According to the assessment, contact with Lithuanian citizens may also occur at the events they attend.

In February, a Montenegrin citizen was arrested in Poland on suspicion of spying for China against Lithuania.

Intelligence sources said the suspect may have been collecting and transmitting information about Lithuania and its ongoing processes, which has been of interest to Chinese intelligence agencies since 2023.

The suspect is expected to be extradited to Lithuania.