China protests US sanctions, says it violate principles of international relations

The sanctions imposed by United States against China over military cooperation with Russia, are a gross violation of the principles of international relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Friday. Shuang also urged the US to immediately lift the new sanctions against Beijing otherwise Washington will have to bear the consequences. China has made a representation to the US States over the sanctions.

On Thursday, a senior US administration official told reporters that the US had sanctioned China's Equipment Development Department (EDD) and its Director Li Shangfu for buying missile defense systems and combat aircraft from Russia in violation of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

"The actions of the US side have grossly violated the basic principles of international relations . The actions of the US side significantly undermine relations between the armed forces of China and the United States," the spokesman told a briefing, commenting on the new sanctions.

The spokesman stressed that the cooperation between Russia and China, including in the defence area, did not violate international law and was not directed against third countries, adding that Beijing would continue to enhance collaboration with Moscow despite the US sanctions.

"We urge the US side to immediately correct its mistakes, lift the so-called sanctions, otherwise the US side will have to face the consequences," the spokesman said.

China has made a harsh representation to the US States over the sanctions against it.

"The Chinese side expresses its extreme outrage with the mentioned actions and has already made a harsh representation," the spokesman said during the briefing.