China demands US stop ‘abusing sanctions’
TASS
China has demanded that the US end unilateral sanctions on a Chinese port company over alleged Iranian oil imports, calling the measures a violation of international law. Beijing vowed to defend its firms’ legitimate interests after Washington imposed penalties on Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal and its chairman.
On May 2, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, condemned the latest US sanctions on a Chinese port-operating company accused of importing crude oil from Iran.
Speaking to TASS, Liu stated: “China opposes unilateral sanctions and extraterritorial jurisdiction that have no basis in international law. Normal economic and trade cooperation between Chinese companies and other countries should not be interfered with or undermined.”
He urged Washington to “stop abusing sanctions” and reaffirmed that China “will resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.”
Earlier the same day, the US State Department announced sanctions on Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal Co., Ltd. and its chairman. According to the State Department, the company had “imported tens of millions of barrels of crude oil from sanctioned Iran,” reportedly generating “billions of dollars” for Tehran.
