BEIJING: Beijing accused the European Union (EU) on Tuesday of “smearing” Chinese firms after the bloc sanctioned companies from China for allegedly supplying Russia’s military in the war on Ukraine.
China will “take the necessary steps to resolutely protect the proper and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises”, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said.
The EU added four Chinese companies to a blacklist on Monday for allegedly “supplying sensitive drone components and microelectronic components” to the Russian military.
Two other companies and one Chinese businesswoman were hit for circumventing EU sanctions aimed at stopping equipment flowing to Moscow.
Beijing Asks EU to Stop Blaming China
The EU has targeted Chinese firms before for allegedly supporting Russia’s military, but Monday’s sanctions were the toughest yet.
Lin said on Tuesday the sanctions were “without basis in international law”.
“When it comes to Ukraine, China has always done its best to promote peace talks, and has never provided arms or weapons to the parties involved in the conflict,” Lin told a regular press conference.
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China asks the EU to “stop smearing and blaming China without any factual basis”, he said.
The EU also took aim at North Korea in the latest package, after Pyongyang dispatched troops to Russia to fight Ukraine.
The 27-nation bloc said defence minister No Kwang Chol and deputy chief of the general staff Kim Yong Bok to a list of North Korean officials already blacklisted.
