China has declared that it will not comply with US sanctions imposed on five companies purchasing oil from Iran. The Ministry of Commerce of China condemned the US restrictions as violations of international law and instructed Chinese firms not to implement these sanctions. Meanwhile, the US has placed sanctions on another Chinese company as President Donald Trump prepares for a visit to China. April 20, Kathmandu.
In its statement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce emphasized that it does not recognize the US sanctions. “These sanctions hinder Chinese companies from conducting normal economic and trade activities with other countries and violate fundamental principles of international law and international relations,” the statement read. The ministry directed Chinese companies and institutions not to comply with these US sanctions.
The statement further noted, “The Chinese government has always opposed unilateral sanctions that are not approved by the United Nations and are not based on international law.” Just a day earlier, the US had sanctioned another Chinese company, accusing it of importing “millions of barrels” of Iranian crude oil and helping Iran generate billions of dollars in revenue. However, the Ministry of Commerce did not mention the name of the company in its response. The timing of these sanctions coincides with President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China this month, during which he is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
