Chinese Foreign Ministry Says US Sanctions Grossly Violate Principles Of Int'l Relations

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st September, 2018) The US sanctions, imposed against China over military cooperation with Russia, are a gross violation of the principles of international relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Friday.

On Thursday, a senior US administration official told reporters that the United States had sanctioned China's Equipment Development Department (EDD) and its Director Li Shangfu for buying missile defense systems and combat aircraft from Russia in violation of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

"The actions of the US side have grossly violated the basic principles of international relations ... The actions of the US side significantly undermine relations between the armed forces of China and the United States," the spokesman told a briefing, commenting on the new sanctions.

The spokesman stressed that the cooperation between Russia and China, including in the defense area, did not violate international law and was not directed against third countries, adding that Beijing would continue to enhance collaboration with Moscow despite the US sanctions.