It said it was “shocked and surprised” by the “totally unacceptable” statements made by Lithuanian intelligence, insisting that “China does not pose any security threat to Lithuania”.

China, Norway face off over ‘ridiculous’ claims Beijing is using Huawei to spy on Scandinavian host

Earlier in the week, two Lithuanian intelligence agencies condemned China for an “increasingly aggressive” spy campaign, which they said included “attempts to recruit Lithuanian citizens”.

Darius Jauniskis, head of Lithuania’s State Security Department, said his agency was analysing the potential “threat” posed by Huawei, whose technology is being used to build the EU and Nato state’s new 5G telecommunications infrastructure.

US officials recently toured EU capitals urging European governments to scrap Huawei technology from their telecoms infrastructure plans.

Washington considers the matter urgent as EU countries prepare to roll out 5G networks that will deliver near-instantaneous connectivity, vast data capacity and new technologies.

China voices ‘grave concerns’ over Poland’s arrest of Huawei sales director on spying charges

Several other countries, under pressure from the US, have banned Huawei’s 5G equipment.

China has limited economic presence in Lithuania, a staunch US ally of 2.8 million people, but talks are under way regarding investments in the Baltic seaport of Klaipeda, according to local officials.

Occupied and annexed by Moscow during the second world war, Lithuania broke free from the crumbling Soviet Union in 1991, and joined both the European Union and Nato in 2004.