China Condemns U.S. Sanctions as 'Illegal and Unilateral'

China has criticized U.S. sanctions on its entities related to the Ukraine war as 'illegal and unilateral,' ahead of high-level talks with Jake Sullivan in Beijing. The sanctions target over 400 entities and individuals involved in supporting Russia. China's envoy, Li Hui, opposes the sanctions, emphasizing China's role in seeking diplomatic solutions.

China has labeled U.S. sanctions on its entities over the Ukraine war as 'illegal and unilateral,' stating they lack factual basis. This criticism comes just before high-level talks in Beijing, featuring White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Last week, Washington imposed sanctions on over 400 entities and individuals accused of supporting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine, including several Chinese firms. U.S. authorities claim these companies assist Moscow in bypassing Western sanctions and strengthening its military capabilities. Washington has repeatedly warned Beijing against supporting Russia's defense infrastructure, which has already faced numerous sanctions aimed at restricting access to critical military technologies.

China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, voiced strong opposition to these measures while briefing diplomats from Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa. Li argued that certain countries are using the Ukrainian crisis to politically target and fabricate narratives against China. He condemned what he described as 'illegal and unilateral sanctions' that threaten countries maintaining normal economic relations with Russia.

Although Li did not directly name the United States, China's commerce and foreign ministries have both strongly opposed the recent sanctions. These include actions against Chinese companies involved in shipping machine tools and microelectronics to Russia.

China aims to present itself as an active mediator in the Ukraine conflict. Despite missing a Swiss peace conference in June, Beijing has proposed various steps to address the crisis, from prisoner exchange facilitation to opposing nuclear weapons use. This week, Li expressed hopes for broader international support for China's peace initiatives.