Beijing on Monday slammed US calls for its allies to impose tariffs on China over its oil trade with Russia, warning of swift retaliation if its interests are undermined.
Advertisement
“China will take resolute countermeasures to protect its sovereignty, security, and development interests if its legitimate rights and interests are harmed,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said during a regular press conference on Monday.
He added that Beijing strongly rejected the imposition of illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction against China.
The remarks came in response to renewed US efforts last week to penalise China and India for buying energy from Russia. US President Donald Trump called on the European Union to impose secondary tariffs on the two nations over their Russian oil imports, a push that has now gained traction among the Group of Seven (G7) countries.
The US Treasury reportedly called on the G7 on Friday to immediately impose 50 to 100 per cent secondary tariffs on China and India in a bid to pressure them to stop the imports, which Washington believes to be funding Russia’s war machine.
Advertisement
Calling Beijing’s economic and energy cooperation with Russia “justified, legitimate and beyond reproach”, Lin said the US actions were “a typical display of unilateral bullying and economic coercion.
“[The US moves] severely undermine international trade rules and threaten the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains,” he added.