U.S. Sanctions Chinese Refineries; China Retaliates: Prohibits Companies with Operations in China from Complying with U.S. Sanctions.
The United States has imposed sanctions on multiple Chinese refining companies, citing their ties to Iran's oil sector. In response, China's Ministry of Commerce has issued a countermeasure, banning enterprises operating in China from complying with U.S. sanctions.
China's Ministry of Commerce stated on Saturday, May 2nd, that it will not abide by the U.S. sanctions targeting five Chinese firms "on the grounds of involvement in Iranian oil transactions."
The U.S. announced these sanctions last year. Now, China’s newly released "Blocking Regulation" mandates: "Do not recognize, do not implement, and do not comply" with U.S. sanctions measures.
In a statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the U.S. sanctions "unjustly prohibit or restrict Chinese enterprises from conducting normal economic, trade, and related activities with third countries," adding that they violate international law and basic norms of international relations. The statement emphasized: "The Chinese government has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions lacking authorization from the United Nations and legal basis under international law."
Table Media analysis notes that after China issued this "blocking regulation," the immediate effect is clear: all enterprises doing business in China must not comply with U.S. sanctions. This means multinational corporations must now choose between two systems—complying with U.S. sanctions risks violating Chinese law, while adhering to China’s rules may expose them to potential consequences in the United States. Table Media points out that China has consistently justified its stance based on international law and highlighted that U.S. sanctions lack UN authorization.
Source: DW, AFP, Table Media, etc.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1864278986411017/
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