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.
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.
