News Analysis Beijing has reacted against Lithuania’s upgrade to its Taiwan relations with extended trade and diplomatic sanctions against the Baltic country. The move is so severe and unprecedented that it provoked reactions from not only the United States, Britain, and European Union, but a German business group that has deep financial ties to China. Behind the uproar was Lithuania’s courageous decision in November to allow Taiwan to open a de facto consulate in Lithuania’s capital city of Vilnius. The office uses the name “Taiwan” rather than Taiwan’s capital city of “Taipei.” The former more accurately reflects the island democracy’s sovereignty than the “Taipei” used in the United States and elsewhere in Europe. Last year, Lithuania withdrew from China’s “17+1” diplomatic forum of Central and East European countries, and Lithuania’s ruling coalition agreed to support “those fighting for freedom” in Taiwan. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said he will not attend the …