Xi reiterates opposition to unilateral sanctions, long-arm jurisdiction

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Xi reiterates opposition to unilateral sanctions, long-arm jurisdiction

BOAO, China : Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China's opposition to unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction in a speech on Thursday April 21 without mentioning the West's punitive actions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

China has criticised Western sanctions, including those against Russia, but it has also been careful not to give assistance to Moscow that could lead to sanctions being imposed on Beijing.

Xi warned economic decoupling and pressure tactics, such as the severing supply chains, would not work. Speaking at the annual Boao Forum for Asia gathering on the southern Chinese island of Hainan.

Xi said that China would like to put forward a global security initiative that upholds the principle of indivisibility of security.

We should uphold the principle of indivisibility of security, build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture and oppose the building of national security on the basis of insecurity in other countries. Russia insists that Western governments respect a 1999 agreement based on the principle of indivisible security that no country can strengthen its own security at the cost of others.

China and Russia have grown increasingly close, and China has refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a special operation. China blames the Ukraine crisis on NATO's eastward expansion.

Xi said that efforts are needed to stabilise global supply chains, but also that China's economy is resilient and that its long-term trend has not changed.

China's economy is facing a lot of headwinds due to the aggressive efforts to stem the spread of COVID 19, especially in its economic hub of Shanghai. Xi didn't mention China's COVID 19 crisis during the speech.