Article by Viory
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday that Beijing rejects unilateral sanctions as tensions grow over US efforts to curb purchases of Iranian oil.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Guo stressed that such measures lack legal legitimacy without international backing.
“China opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorisation of the UN Security Council,” Guo told reporters at a daily press conference in Beijing.
His remarks follow claims that Washington will slap sanctions on countries that continue buying Iranian oil, amid a maritime blockade imposed earlier this week after ceasefire talks over the weekend ended with no deal.
It comes after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington is prepared to impose secondary sanctions on foreign institutions facilitating Iranian oil transactions.
“I will tell you that two Chinese banks received letters from the US Treasury. I’m not going to identify the banks, but we told them that if we can prove that there is Iranian money flowing through your accounts, then we are willing to put on secondary sanctions,” Bessent said earlier this week.
He added that the United States expects Chinese purchases of Iranian oil to ‘pause’ under the current maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
The measures follow a temporary 30-day sanctions waiver that is set to expire on April 19, effectively ending allowances for previously authorised shipments.
Before the latest escalation, China accounted for more than 80 percent of Iran’s seaborne oil exports.
Beyond the geopolitical tensions, Guo also highlighted cultural diplomacy, marking the 80th anniversary of the designation of Mandarin Chinese as an official language of the United Nations.
“Language is the vehicle of civilisation. All civilisations are humanity’s treasures. They are all absolutely essential and deserve equal respect and joint protection,” Guo continued.
He added that Beijing remains in communication with Washington regarding a potential visit by Donald Trump, while declining to comment on reports involving Chinese nationals detained abroad, reiterating that citizens must respect local laws and that China is ready to cooperate internationally to combat crime.
Article by Viory
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