Lithuania has dropped out from the China-driven 17+1 grouping and has urged neighbouring countries to do the same. China had formed the grouping with eastern and central European nations.

The move by Lithuania follows the deterioration of relations between the European Union (EU) and China. Beijing is slowly losing allies even as it tries to expand and influence countries with its kind of diplomacy.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told media persons that his country no longer considers itself as a member of the 17+1 format. In an email response he told POLITICO: "There is no such thing as 17+1 anymore as for practical purposes Lithuania is out."

The minister urged the other countries in the grouping, including those belonging to the EU to leave the group. He said that joining China is divisive for Europe and the EU members together should pursue a more effective approach and communication with China.

Suspicion had been creeping in their relations as Lithuania had identified Beijing as conducting espionage activities on their land.

Lithuania had also angered China by announcing that it would open up a trade office in Taiwan – a territory that China considers its own and vehemently opposes on international platforms. Vilnius, like a number of other countries, recently declared that Beijing was conducting a genocide of the Muslim Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region.

The deterioration in relations between the small east European country and the Communist power mirrors that of the EU and China over human rights, imposition of sanctions as well as completely divergent views on a number of global issues.

Just this week, the China-EU investment deal ran into rough weather after the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) did not ratify the deal. Instead, the MEPs described Beijing's actions in Xinjiang region as "crimes against humanity". The much-talked about investment deal had taken about seven years of discussion and would have granted investment opportunities to European nations in China.