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Chinese ministries slam EU sanctions involving Chinese banks, companies over Russia, vow to safeguard rights

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jul 21, 2025 09:36 PM

Chinese Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Monday slammed EU sanctions involving Chinese banks and companies over Russia, and vowed to safeguard legitimate rights with necessary actions. The normal interactions between Chinese and Russian companies and financial institutions should be free from interference or disruption, a Chinese experts noted.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized at a press conference on Monday that China opposes any unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or the authorization of the UN Security Council, in response to a media question about the EU's latest round of sanctions against Russia last Friday involving some Chinese-funded banks and five Chinese enterprises.

On the Ukraine crisis, China has been committed to promoting peace talks. We never provide lethal weapons to any party to the conflict, and strictly control the exports of dual-use items. The normal exchange and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies should not be disturbed or affected, Guo said.

We urge the EU to stop harming the lawful interests of Chinese companies without any factual basis. China will do what is necessary to firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies, Guo said.

The MOFCOM said on Monday that the EU, ignoring China's repeated representations and objections, has arbitrarily pressed ahead with including some Chinese enterprises in the sanctions list and imposed sanctions on two Chinese financial institutions on trumped-up charges. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes this move.

China has always opposed unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and are not authorized by the UN Security Council. The EU's move runs counter to the spirit of the consensus reached by Chinese and EU leaders and has a serious negative impact on China-EU economic and trade relations and financial cooperation, a spokesperson of the MOFCOM said.

China urges the EU to immediately stop the wrong practice on Chinese enterprises and financial institutions. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and financial institutions, the spokesperson said.

The EU on Friday adopted the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, including imposing sanctions on some Chinese companies, with the EU claiming these companies have links with Russia's military operation in the Ukraine, according to a press release on the website of the European Commission (EC).

Also, two Chinese financial institutions have been targeted, with the EU claiming they "helped circumvent EU sanctions." EU entities have been barred from conducting transactions with these institutions, according to a document listing questions and answers about the 18th package of sanctions against Russia on the website of the EC.

Normal interactions between Chinese and Russian enterprises and financial institutions should be free from interference or disruption, Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

The business engagements between the Chinese institutions and those in Russia represent bilateral financial exchanges and trade activities rooted in national sovereignty, with the goal of safeguarding the smooth functioning of international trade, Jian said.

On the contrary, the EU's unilateral sanctions, along with the extension of Russia-targeted sanctions to other countries, essentially constitute a blatant interference in international trade or an act of hegemony, Jian added.

China and the EU share extensive common interests in fields such as opposing trade protectionism, addressing climate change, and safeguarding the international order. The EU should actively cooperate with China instead of continuously seeking to escalate conflicts, which is in line with the respective interests of both sides, Jian said.

As agreed between China and the EU, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the EC Ursula von der Leyen will visit China on July 24, according to the Xinhua News Agency.