BEIJING (AP) 鈥 China on Monday accused the U.S. of 鈥渙utright bullying and double standards鈥 in leveling what it called 鈥渋llegal鈥 sanctions on Chinese companies as part of U.S. actions against Russia鈥檚 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 abuses, in Africa.
The sanctions 鈥渉ave no basis in international law or authorization from the Security Council, and are typical illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction,鈥 Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing.
The punitive measures were 鈥渟eriously harming China鈥檚 interests鈥 and China 鈥渟trongly rejects and deplores that and has lodged solemn complaints with the U.S. side,鈥 Mao said.
鈥淲hile the U.S. has intensified its efforts to send weapons to one of the parties to the conflict, resulting in an endless war, it has frequently spread false information about China鈥檚 supply of weapons to Russia, taking the opportunity to sanction Chinese companies for no reason," she said. 鈥淭his is outright bullying and double standards."
The Treasury and State departments announced the moves in coordinated statements that targeted dozens of Wagner Group affiliates, including some in the Central African Republic and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the president of Russia鈥檚 Kalashnikov Concern, the original manufacturer of the AK-47 assault rifle.
Wagner, a private Russian military company, has been involved in heavy fighting in the east of Ukraine.
The sanctions also hit the Chinese company Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd., also known as Spacety China, which has supplied Wagner Group affiliates with satellite imagery of Ukraine that support Wagner鈥檚 military operations there. A Luxembourg-based subsidiary of Spacety China was also targeted.
