Chinese Ministry of Commerce denounces US restrictions

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce expressed its "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" to the US Department of Defense's decision to include new companies in the list of "Chinese military companies."

The official statement accused Washington of ignoring the rules of the World Trade Organization and market principles by abusing the concept of national security. It also denounced the United States for using its state power to single out and restrict “Chinese companies in an unjustified manner” under the argument of its “civil-military fusion” strategy.

The Ministry of Commerce described these actions as a serious violation of the international economic and commercial order and a threat to the stability of global supply and industrial chains. “We urge the United States to respect the facts and the rules, to immediately stop these erroneous practices, and to provide fair, impartial, and non-discriminatory treatment to Chinese companies,” the statement added.

The Chinese government said it will closely monitor related developments and take all necessary measures to protect its companies’ legitimate rights and interests.

In the context of bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun rejected the inclusion of companies such as Tencent and Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) on the Department of Defense’s “discriminatory lists”.

“China firmly opposes the United States’ expansion of the concept of national security, the use of discriminatory lists, and the unjustified repression against Chinese companies. This violates the development rights of the Chinese people and obstructs China’s high-quality development,” said the spokesman, who urged Washington to “immediately correct its mistakes, lift illegal unilateral sanctions, and stop exercising extraterritorial jurisdiction over Chinese companies.”

According to the spokesman, Beijing will take necessary measures to defend its company’s legitimate rights and protect its economic development.

The development comes less than 24 hours after Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held a video conference to discuss bilateral economic cooperation.