The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Sunday blasted US sanctions on Chinese companies over their alleged involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a typical example of long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions, vowing “necessary measures” to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.
On Friday (US time), the US imposed sanctions on more than 400 entities and individuals for allegedly supporting Russia in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including Chinese companies, Reuters reported, citing the US State Department.
It said the Biden administration’s sanctions include measures against companies in China allegedly involved in shipping machine tools and microelectronics to Russia. The US also added 42 companies in China to its Entity List, forcing suppliers to obtain licenses before shipping to targeted companies, according to the report.
China firmly opposes the sanctions, a MOFCOM spokesperson said in a statement published on the ministry’s website.
The practice is a typical example of long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions, which disrupt international trade norms and rules, impedes normal trade between countries, and affects the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, said the spokesperson.
“We urge the US to immediately halt these misguided actions, and China will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies,” the spokesperson said.
China’s position on the Ukraine issue has been consistent and clear. The Chinese government is always neutral on the Ukraine issue and has never supplied weapons to either party, He Weiwen, senior fellow from the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Sunday.
“The US may continue to sanction Chinese companies and add more Chinese firms to its Entity List citing various excuses, for which we should be fully prepared and firmly oppose,” He stressed.
The latest US move against Chinese companies comes as US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will visit China from Tuesday to Thursday, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
While continuously carrying out suppression targeting Chinese companies, especially in the high-tech sector, the US continues to enhance cooperation with China, He said. China-US economic and trade relations are showing a stable trend, as the value of bilateral trade so far in 2024 has slightly increased.
“As two large countries, it’s difficult for China and the US to maintain sound relations but it’s also hard for them to break up. The two will likely maintain cooperation despite competition,” Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday.
GT
