On Thursday, China firmly defended its oil purchases from Russia, asserting they are both legitimate and lawful. Beijing issued a strong warning to the United States, stating that it would implement “firm countermeasures” if Washington moved to impose unilateral sanctions that targeted China’s interests.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, speaking in Beijing, characterized the U.S.’ stance as “unilateral bullying” and “economic coercion.” He argued that such actions gravely jeopardize international trade regulations and pose a risk to the stability and security of worldwide industrial and supply chains.
Mr. Lin reiterated that China’s regular trade and energy collaborations with nations globally, including Russia, are entirely legitimate and lawful. His comments came in response to inquiries about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged to cease oil imports from Russia, and that China should follow suit.
On Wednesday, former President Trump expressed dissatisfaction in Washington regarding India’s acquisition of Russian crude oil. He contended that these purchases were contributing to the funding of President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“Mr. Modi assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a significant move. Now, the focus shifts to convincing China to adopt a similar stance,” Trump stated.
Mr. Lin emphasized that China has consistently upheld an objective and impartial position regarding the Ukraine crisis, with its policies being transparent and fully visible to the international community.
He asserted, “We are resolute in our opposition to the U.S. targeting China on this matter, and we strongly condemn the imposition of illegal unilateral sanctions and extraterritorial jurisdiction against China.”
Lin further warned that if China’s legitimate rights and interests are compromised, Beijing would implement decisive countermeasures to protect its sovereignty, development, and security interests.
Reports from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) indicate that India stands as the second-largest purchaser of Russian fossil fuels, with China being the largest.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently noted that China procures 60% of Russia’s energy, including substantial gas supplies via cross-border pipelines, in addition to oil.
In response to Mr. Bessent’s statement that Beijing’s restrictions on rare earth exports constituted “China versus the world” and would prompt a “fulsome group response” from the U.S. and its allies, Mr. Lin countered that these measures align with standard international practices.
He explained that these controls are designed to enhance global peace and regional stability, as well as to meet non-proliferation and other international commitments.
China, holding a near monopoly on rare earth materials, recently tightened its export controls for mining and processing these critical minerals. Beijing claims that unspecified foreign entities have been utilizing these supplies for military applications.
This move by Beijing provoked anger from former President Trump, who responded by threatening to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese products.
Mr. Bessent informed CNBC on Wednesday that the U.S. plans to consult with its European allies, Australia, Canada, India, and other Asian democracies.
He elaborated, “We are going to formulate a comprehensive collective response to this, as Chinese bureaucrats cannot dictate or manage the global supply chain and manufacturing processes for the rest of the world.”
China currently dominates the rare earth market, responsible for approximately 70% of global mining and almost 90% of processing. This positions China as the primary supplier of these vital metals, which are essential for industries ranging from automotive and electronics to renewable energy and defense.
The demand for China’s rare earth metals is significant, with the U.S., European Union, and India being among its largest importers.
In a separate statement, Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian affirmed Beijing’s openness to resolving trade disputes with Washington through constructive dialogue.
When questioned about the possibility of new economic and trade discussions before the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in South Korea, he stated that Beijing consistently adopts an open approach to equitable consultations founded on mutual respect.