China summons US ambassador over imposition of fresh sanctions

Authorities in China have summoned the United States ambassador over the fresh imposition of sanctions on Beijing for purchasing fighter jets and missiles from Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Reports say China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang summoned Ambassador Terry Branstad and “lodged solemn representations” in relation to the sanctions, state media reported.

Beijing, on Friday, had warned of consequences for Washington if it does not cancel the freshly imposed sanctions.

“The Chinese side expresses strong indignation over the above-mentioned unreasonable practices of the US side,” foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told journalists.

Read also: Landslides claim 21 lives in the Philippines, bury scores of houses

Moscow also warned that Washington was “playing with fire” and accused the US of trying to squeeze Russia out of the global arms market.

“This is unfair competition, dishonest competition, an attempt to use non-market methods that run counter to norms and principles of international trade to squeeze the main competitor of US makers out of the markets,” said President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

The US State Department said Chinese purchases of SU-35 aircraft and S-400 surface-to-air missiles breached a US sanctions law targeting Russia over its alleged meddling in the 2016 US election and actions in Ukraine.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now