The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on nearly 200 Chinese entities. In turn, the US Department of State, as part of one of the most extensive actions against Chinese companies to date, has designated another 80 entities subject to sanctions.
The United States, after repeated warnings, imposed sanctions on companies based in China and Hong Kong responsible for providing support to the Russian military. Reuters pointed out that China's support for Russia is one of many issues that could spoil relations between the world's largest economies.
“The Treasury Department has consistently warned that companies would face serious consequences for providing material support to Russia's war, and the United States is today imposing them on nearly 300 entities,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
China's 'normal trade interactions' with Russia
Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for China's embassy in Washington, said that “normal trade and economic interactions between China and Russia are in line with the regulations and market rules of the World Trade Organization.” – The Chinese side firmly opposes illegal unilateral US sanctions – he said.
The United States and its allies have imposed sanctions on thousands of entities since Russia invaded Ukraine, Reuters reminds.
The United States has imposed sanctions on entities in ChinaShutterstock
On Wednesday, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on nearly 60 entities located in Azerbaijan, Belgium, China, Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Slovakia. These entities were accused of “enabling Russia to obtain the necessary technology and equipment from abroad.”
The sanctions covered companies in China that exported products used to build drones, such as propellers, engines and sensors, to Russia. The State Department also imposed sanctions on four China-based companies it accused of supporting Russia's defense industrial base, including by shipping products to U.S.-sanctioned entities in Russia.
– Concerns about the activities of entities from China supplying Russia for the war are focusing the attention of the highest levels of the ministry and administration of this country. The reason is very simple: China is a leading supplier of key components to Russia's defense industrial base, and Russia is using them to continue its war in Ukraine, a senior State Department official said.
“If China stopped supporting the export of these products, Russia would have difficulty sustaining its war effort,” he added.
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