Sanctions from last week include penalties against Chinese enterprises that transport microelectronics and machine equipment to Russia.
In remarks made on Tuesday, in advance of White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s arrival in Beijing for several days of high-level talks, China referred to US sanctions on its entities related to the war in Ukraine as “illegal and unilateral” and “not based on facts”.
More than 400 organizations and people were subject to penalties by the US this week for their support of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. Among them were Chinese businesses that, according to US authorities, aid Moscow in evading Western sanctions and bolstering its armed forces.
Beijing has been repeatedly cautioned by Washington not to boost Russia’s defense industrial base, and hundreds of sanctions have already been imposed with the goal of limiting Moscow’s ability to use particular technologies for military gain.
At a briefing for diplomats in Beijing following the most recent series of meetings with officials from Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa, China’s special envoy for Eurasian issues, Li Hui, who has participated in four rounds of shuttle diplomacy, expressed opposition to the penalties.
“A particular country uses the crisis … to shift blame in an attempt to fabricate the so-called China responsibility theory and threatens countries that have normal economic and trade ties with Russia with illegal and unilateral sanctions,” Li added.
Li did not mention the US, but China’s foreign and commerce ministries both stated on Sunday that their countries vehemently opposed the prior rounds of restrictions.
Sanctions from last week include penalties against Chinese enterprises that transport microelectronics and machine equipment to Russia.
“These words and deeds are totally for their selfish interests and are not based on facts, the international community will never accept them,” Li continued.
Even though China did not attend the June peace summit in Switzerland, it has been making an effort to portray itself as a party actively seeking a resolution to the issue.
Following previous rounds of negotiations chaired by Li, Beijing presented ideas endorsing the transfer of prisoners of war, rejecting the use of biological and nuclear weapons, and opposing military assaults on civilian nuclear installations.
Over a year ago, China outlined broad guidelines for terminating the conflict in a 12-point document, but it omitted specifics.
This year, China and Brazil advocated for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Li said on Tuesday that he hoped more nations would support China’s efforts for peace.
