ISTANBUL
China on Monday urged the UK to "immediately correct its wrongdoings" and revoke the recently placed sanctions on multiple Chinese entities to "safeguard the positive momentum" in Beijing-London relations, state media reported.
"China strongly deplores and firmly rejects the UK's unilateral sanctions that lack any basis in international law and are not authorized by the UN Security Council," said a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce.
The ministry was responding to the UK Foreign Office's Feb. 24 announcement of a new round of Russia-related sanctions, involving multiple Chinese companies, Beijing-based daily Global Times reported.
On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, Beijing said it has been "strictly" controlling the export of dual-use items in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies should not be interfered with or disrupted, the spokesperson said.
"China will take necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," the spokesperson further said.
According to the UK Foreign Office, the sanctions represent the largest package of sanctions against Russia in this period, which targets 49 entities and individuals, including international suppliers of Russian drones, components and technology, as well as actors in Russia’s liquefied natural gas sector.
Thousands of civilians and combatants have been killed, while millions of people across the Ukraine-Russia border have been displaced since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022.