China warns of response to possible US secondary sanctions
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago1 MIN
Summary
China’s embassy in the United States said Beijing would take necessary measures if Washington passes a Russia sanctions bill and imposes secondary sanctions on China. The warning came after the US Senate approved legislation that could levy tariffs of up to 100% on countries including China and India that import large volumes of Russian oil or natural gas.
Key Points
- Liu Chang, a counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Washington, made the remarks on Tuesday, August 11, in a reply to Russian media.
- Liu said China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions lacking a basis in international law and without approval from the United Nations Security Council.
- He said Beijing would take necessary measures to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens if secondary sanctions are imposed.
- The US Senate passed the Russia sanctions bill last week; on.cc said it was proposed by the late senator Graham
- The bill will next go to the House of Representatives and, if passed there, be sent to President Donald Trump for signature.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the dispute points to possible knock-on pressure on China-linked trade and corporate activity if US penalties widen beyond Russia. It also raises the prospect of further retaliation and policy friction between Beijing and Washington, which could affect business sentiment in the region.