China accuses U.S. of ‘bullying’ with new ‘illegal’ sanctions

BEIJING –

China on Monday accused the U.S. of “outright bullying and double standards” in levelling what it referred to as “illegal” sanctions on Chinese firms as a part of U.S. actions towards Russia’s Wagner Group and associated firms and people.

The entities had been focused for his or her function within the struggle in Ukraine and mercenary actions, together with human rights abuses, in Africa.

The sanctions “have no basis in international law or authorization from the Security Council, and are typical illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning mentioned at a day by day briefing.

The punitive measures had been “seriously harming China’s interests” and China “strongly rejects and deplores that and has lodged solemn complaints with the U.S. side,” Mao mentioned.

“While the U.S. has intensified its efforts to send weapons to one of the parties to the conflict, resulting in an endless war, it has frequently spread false information about China’s supply of weapons to Russia, taking the opportunity to sanction Chinese companies for no reason,” she mentioned. “This is outright bullying and double standards.”

The Treasury and State departments introduced the strikes in coordinated statements that focused dozens of Wagner Group associates, together with some within the Central African Republic and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to the president of Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern, the unique producer of the AK-47 assault rifle.

Wagner, a non-public Russian navy firm, has been concerned in heavy combating within the east of Ukraine.

The sanctions additionally hit the Chinese firm Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd., also called Spacety China, which has provided Wagner Group associates with satellite tv for pc imagery of Ukraine that help Wagner’s navy operations there. A Luxembourg-based subsidiary of Spacety China was additionally focused.