The article mentions multiple times that China has no "leverage" over Lithuania so it trade moves are useless. Which is objectively true if we see the miniscule trade figures.
But what if China unofficially carries out a Cuba style embargo on them ? Ask every company that does business in China to move out of Lithuania. That will have a strong impact much more than a trade ban and create actual deterrence.
US started with Lithuania and very soon more smaller countries will join them. The big ones will stay out as they'll lose a lot. But the smaller ones (who have negligible trade with China) have nothing to lose & will join US in its endeavor. This seems to very deliberative and akin to Salami Slicing.
Once China will be quarrelling with multiple tiny nations, the global discourse will become in favour of the West and the US will push for further legitimizing TW.
To stop this, China should simple kill the process in the 1st stage by carrying out an unofficial embargo.