China has expressed strong opposition to the European Union’s recent sanctions on its companies and financial institutions connected to Russia.
In a statement released on Wednesday, a spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry voiced “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to the EU’s decision to include Chinese firms and banks in its 18th round of sanctions against Russia.
“Despite our repeated objections, the EU has persisted in unilateral actions and sanctioned two Chinese financial institutions on unfounded grounds,” the spokesperson said.
China emphasized that it opposes unilateral sanctions lacking international legal basis and not authorized by the United Nations Security Council. The spokesperson noted that the EU’s actions have severely impacted China-EU economic and trade relations.
“We urge the EU to immediately stop this wrongful practice of listing Chinese companies and financial institutions,” the statement read. “China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of our companies and financial institutions.”
