At a regular news briefing on Monday, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, staunchly defended the Chinese mainland's normal economic, trade, and energy cooperation with Russia, calling it "justified, legitimate and beyond reproach."
His remarks come after the United States urged G7 and NATO members to slap additional tariffs on Chinese imports of Russian oil, aiming to curb Moscow's revenue amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Lin dismissed these moves as forms of "unilateral bullying and economic coercion," warning that they "seriously undermine international economic and trade rules" and threaten global industrial and supply chains.
"Coercion is unwelcome and cannot resolve problems," Lin stated, underscoring that the Chinese mainland has consistently maintained an objective stance on the Ukraine situation. He reaffirmed Beijing's call for dialogue and negotiation as the only practical path to peace, noting that China has continuously supported talks since the crisis began.
Lin also voiced firm opposition to what he described as "excessive, illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction" against the Chinese mainland. He warned that should China's legitimate rights and interests be violated, Beijing is prepared to take "firm countermeasures" to defend its sovereignty, security, and development interests.
As global energy markets and supply chains stay on edge, Lin's statements highlight Beijing's challenge to Western-led economic pressure and its commitment to safeguarding strategic partnerships. The standoff raises fresh questions about how big powers navigate the fine line between sanctions, market forces, and diplomatic dialogue in an increasingly interconnected world.
Reference(s):
China: Trade and energy cooperation with Russia is beyond reproach
cgtn.com
