Zhao Lijian is a Foreign Ministry spokesman. PHOTO China has lodged solemn representations with the United States over sanctions slapped on five Chinese companies, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday, urging the US to revoke them immediately.
Five companies in China were added to a trade blacklist on Tuesday for allegedly supporting Russia's military and defense industrial base, according to the news agency.
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Such sanctions have no basis in international law nor were they granted by the United Nations Security Council, said Zhao at a daily news conference.
He said that China will take every measure necessary to protect the lawful rights of the Chinese companies because of the unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdictions imposed by the US.
In handling its relations with Russia, the US must not undermine China's legitimate interests, Zhao said.
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The trade cooperation between China and Russia is based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. He said that this shouldn't be restricted or interfered with by any third party.
China has played a constructive role in promoting talks over the Ukraine issue, but has not provided military assistance to parties involved in the conflict, the Chinese embassy in the United States said in an interview with the Global Times newspaper on Wednesday.
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The lawful interests of Chinese companies should not be harmed by the fact that China and Russia have normal cooperation in energy and trade.