August M
China Defends Trade Ties with Russia
China Defends Trade Ties with Russia
Overview
As the United States ramps up sanctions on Russia’s oil industry, China is speaking out.
The latest round of sanctions from the U.S., aimed at pushing Moscow toward ending the war in Ukraine, has not only shaken global energy markets but also provoked a sharp response from Beijing. Here’s what we know.
China Rejects Unilateral Sanctions
According to Digi24.ro, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the U.S. sanctions on Thursday.
He stated that China “consistently opposes unilateral sanctions that are not based on international law and are not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.”
China, a major buyer of Russian oil, views these sanctions as illegitimate and politically motivated.
Reaction to EU Sanctions on Chinese Firms
The European Union also drew Beijing’s ire by placing sanctions on 12 Chinese companies accused of helping Russia evade technology-related sanctions.
According to Digi24.ro Guo Jiakun criticized the EU’s decision, arguing that most countries, including those in Europe, continue trade with Russia, and that China’s cooperation with Moscow is normal and legitimate.
Trump’s Frustration with Putin
On the U.S. front, President Donald Trump voiced his frustration with Vladimir Putin, describing recent talks as going “nowhere.”
This follows his postponement of a long-anticipated meeting in Budapest. The White House has escalated pressure with fresh sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil—two of Russia’s oil giants that, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, fund “the Kremlin’s war machine.”
EU Tightens Its Own Sanctions
The European Union matched Washington’s move by agreeing to strengthen restrictions on Russian hydrocarbons.
According to Digi24.ro this includes new penalties against firms in third-party countries—most notably, the 12 Chinese companies .
The EU argues that these firms are facilitating technology transfers used in drone manufacturing for Russia’s military.
China Urges Restraint
According to Digi24.ro, Guo Jiakun emphasized that “Europe is in no position to make inappropriate judgments about the normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies.”
He also urged the EU to “stop making China a controversial topic,” reflecting Beijing’s growing impatience with being drawn into the West’s sanctions regime, Digi24.ro reports.
China’s Consistent Messaging on Ukraine
While China regularly calls for peace talks and the respect of territorial sovereignty—including that of Ukraine—it continues to walk a diplomatic tightrope.
Despite never condemning Russia’s invasion, Beijing insists it supports diplomatic solutions, even as Western nations accuse it of providing Russia with economic cover.
What We Found Out
As the conflict in Ukraine drags on, global alliances are being tested. China’s public condemnation of U.S. and EU sanctions highlights the growing divide between the West and Beijing.
Whether China will remain a neutral broker or increasingly tilt toward Moscow remains one of the key geopolitical questions moving forward.
This article is made and published by auk1, which may have used AI in the preparation
