ISTANBUL

China “firmly opposed” Canada’s decision to impose sanctions on its entities, the country’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

“China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in a news conference.

His statement came amid Canada’s announcement on Monday to impose sanctions targeting 76 foreign entities and individuals for providing dual-use items to Russia, which includes more than 20 Chinese entities, according to the Global Times.

Lin noted that Canada’s sanctions are “unjustified and preposterous,” noting that Beijing “has lodged serious protests with Canada.”

“China has always upheld a just and objective position on the Ukraine crisis and worked for its political settlement,” he said. “China has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict.”

He added that China’s “normal economic and trade cooperation with Russia” is “justified and beyond reproach,” urging Canada to “immediately rescind its wrongful decision.”