China has voiced its opposition to the latest US sanctions on Chinese companies over their alleged links to Russia’s war in Ukraine, saying it will take necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of the companies in the country.
BEIJING — China on Sunday expressed its opposition to the latest US sanctions on Chinese companies about their alleged ties to Russia’s war in Ukraine and said it will take necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of Russian companies.
The U.S. on Friday announced sweeping sanctions against hundreds of companies in Russia and across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, accusing them of providing products and services that facilitate Russia’s war effort and help the company evade sanctions. The U.S. State Department said it was concerned about “the volume of dual-use exports” from China to Russia.
In its statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce strongly opposed the US’s inclusion of several Chinese companies on its export control list. The measure prohibits such companies from trading with US firms without obtaining a nearly unobtainable special license.
The department called the U.S. action “typical unilateral sanctions” and said they would disrupt global trade orders and rules and undermine the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
“China urges the US to immediately end its wrongdoings and will take necessary measures to resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies,” the report said.
The US action is the latest in a series of thousands of US sanctions imposed on Russian companies and their suppliers in other countries since The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The effectiveness of the sanctions is being questioned, especially as Russia continues to support its economy by selling oil and gas on the international market.
According to the U.S. State Department, some China-based companies supplied machine tools and parts to Russian companies.
China is trying to remain neutral in the conflict in Ukraine, but like Russia, it is hostile to the West.
After Western countries imposed heavy sanctions on Russian oil in response to Russian troops being sent into Ukraine in February 2022, China significantly increased its purchases of Russian oil, increasing its influence in Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin also underscored China’s importance by meeting in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, shortly after he was inaugurated for a fifth term in the Kremlin.