China staunchly opposes US sanctions against its firms aiding Russia's war efforts
26 February 2024 14:22
"China will take the necessary measures to staunchly defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," the ministry stated on its website.
China opposes American sanctions
Seventeen companies from mainland China and Hong Kong were included in the hundreds of newly sanctioned entities by the United States.
Among those, the U.S. Treasury Department hit six Chinese manufacturers and exporters accused of shipping microelectronics to Russia, aiding Moscow in circumventing previous sanctions. The Department froze these firms' U.S. assets and forbade American companies from trading with them.
On Wednesday, the European Union added three companies from China and one from Hong Kong to its blacklist, alleging assistance in providing Russian buyers with access to dual-use military and civilian goods. The following day, three Chinese entities were sanctioned by the United Kingdom due to their perceived support of Russia's actions.
Beijing has consistently refuted claims that Chinese firms have supplied weapons and other equipment in aid of Russian military actions.
On Friday, Zhang Jun, China's Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that Beijing "strongly opposes" the "unlawful sanctions" imposed on Chinese companies by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, "using the issue of Ukraine as an excuse"."
The way in which China supports Russia in the war
China's ruling Communist Party did not denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and has been against sanctions imposed on Moscow. Chinese media has been mirroring the Kremlin's propagandistic narrative, and since the invasion commenced, the two countries have intensified their collaboration in numerous fields, including the military, carrying out joint military operations, among other things.
"This chart is for those in Europe who believe that the European Union should play a mediator role between the US and China. Since the invasion, Chinese exports of transport equipment to Russia have surged by 800 percent. China is far from a neutral player. It is aligned with Russia," economist Robin Brooks penned on Platform X, while illustrating his point with a relevant chart.
China's support of the Russian economy in current times, including its defense industry production and the ongoing war in Ukraine, are factors drawing the two countries closer together, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg remarked at the close of January.
