China protests sanctions over Russia deal

BEIJING » China summoned the American ambassador and the defense attaché and recalled its navy commander from a U.S. trip to deliver a strong protest against economic sanctions Washington lodged over the purchase of Russian fighter jets and surface-toair missile equipment.

The Defense Ministry said the U.S. had no right to interfere in Chinese military cooperation with Russia.

“We demand that the U.S. immediately correct the mistake and revoke the so-called sanctions, otherwise the U.S. must bear the consequences,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement. The Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Ambassador Terry Branstad.

The Central Military Commission — which commands the People’s Liberation Army, the world’s largest standing military — said that Huang Xueping, the commission’s deputy head for international military cooperation, also summoned the acting U.S. defense attaché on Saturday evening, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Huang said China would immediately recall Shen Jinlong, a Chinese navy commander in the U.S. attending a symposium, and would postpone a meeting scheduled for this week in Beijing about a communication mechanism.

“The Chinese military reserves the right to take further countermeasures,” Huang was quoted as saying.

Washington says China’s purchase of the weapons from Rosoboronexport, Russia’s main arms exporter, violated a 2017 law intended to punish the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin for interfering in U.S. elections and other activities.

The action triggers a visa ban on China’s Equipment Development Department and director Li Shangfu, forbids conducting transactions with the U.S. financial system, and blocks all property and interests in property involving the country within U.S. jurisdiction.