Beijing retaliates against US blacklisting of Chinese firms for alleged exports to Russia

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Beijing on Wednesday announced countermeasures against US companies after Washington blacklisted Chinese firms for alleged exports to Russia.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the US has “ignored China's objective and fair position and constructive role” in the Ukraine crisis and “indiscriminately imposed illegal unilateral sanctions on a number of Chinese entities.”

The US has blacklisted at least 20 Chinese enterprises over alleged exports to Russia which is facing the most number of sanctions due to war with Ukraine.

However, Beijing rejected the “so-called grounds” of Russian-related factors, to blacklist the Chinese enterprises.

Washington “engaged in unilateral bullying and economic coercion, (which) seriously violate the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, institutions and individuals,” said the ministry.

The ministry also noted: “At the same time, the United States continues to sell arms to China's Taiwan region, seriously violating the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques, seriously interfering in China's internal affairs, and seriously damaging China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

China considers Taiwan its “breakaway province” while Taipei has maintained its independence since 1949.

Washington has supplied arms and weaponry to Taipei worth billions oqf dollars in recent years and many more are on the way.

The ministry said China has decided to take countermeasures against the 12 US military industrial enterprises and 10 senior managers whose assets in China will be frozen while they will not be allowed to Chinese territories.

The companies targeted by Beijing include Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Javelin Joint Venture, Raytheon Missile Systems, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, General Dynamics Information Technology, and General Dynamics Mission Systems, Intercoastal Electronics Company, Systems Research and Simulation Company, Iron Mountain Solutions Company, Applied Technology Group, Axient Company.

The individuals targeted by Beijing include Kathy Worden, Matthew Bromberg, Benjamin Davis, Thomas Jones, Stephen O'Bryan of Northrop Grumman Corporation, among others.