China accuses US of ‘bullying’ with new ‘illegal’ sanctions

BEIJING – China on Monday accused the US of “outright bullying and double standards” in imposing what it called “illegal” sanctions against Chinese companies as part of US actions against Russia’s Wagner Group and related companies and individuals.

The entities were targeted for their role in the war in Ukraine and mercenary activities, including human rights violations, in Africa.

The sanctions “have no basis in international law or Security Council authorization, and are typical illegal unilateral sanctions and long-armed jurisdiction,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a daily briefing.

The punitive measures were “seriously detrimental to China’s interests” and China “strongly rejects and regrets this and has lodged solemn complaints with the US,” Mao said.

“While the US has intensified its efforts to send weapons to either side of the conflict, resulting in an endless war, it has regularly spread false information about China’s arms supply to Russia, taking the opportunity to impose sanctions against Chinese companies without justification. ‘, she said. “This is downright bullying and double standards.”

The finance and foreign ministries announced the steps in coordinated statements directed at dozens of Wagner Group subsidiaries, including some in the Central African Republic and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the president of Russia’s Kalashnikov Group, the original manufacturer of the AK-47. assault rifle.

Wagner, a private Russian military company, has been involved in fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The sanctions also hit Chinese company Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd., also known as Spacety China, which has provided Wagner Group affiliates with satellite images of Ukraine that support Wagner’s military operations there. A Luxembourg-based subsidiary of Spacety China was also targeted.