China vows retaliation over US sanctions

China has sharply criticised new United States sanctions imposed on Chinese companies, calling them unlawful, and has pledged to take firm countermeasures to protect the legitimate interests of its firms.

Beijing described the sanctions as an abuse of power by Washington and as conduct that falls outside the bounds of long-arm jurisdiction. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian urged the United States to step back from this erroneous course, saying Beijing is firmly committed to defending the lawful rights and interests of its companies.

The previous Friday, the US Treasury Department announced fresh sanctions linked to Iran, blacklisting around 40 additional entities, including a major independent Chinese oil refinery — commonly referred to as a "teapot" refinery.

The Trump administration alleged that China's Hengli Petrochemical Refinery had imported hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of crude oil and petroleum products from Iran, making it one of Tehran's largest buyers.

With instability persisting across the Middle East in the wake of the Iran war, these measures against Chinese oil refineries have deepened the diplomatic rift between Beijing and Washington. Beijing has made clear it will not silently tolerate such treatment and will take legal or economic countermeasures if necessary.

The Trump administration is understood to have chosen this strategic path primarily to pressure China, one of Iran's biggest oil buyers. Attention now turns to a scheduled meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on May 14, where the sanctions and energy trade disputes are expected to feature prominently.

Source: Anadolu Agency