Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian Photo: VCG

China expressed firm opposition and lodged serious protests to EU,MK socks the UK and Canada over their latest sanctions on Chinese entities, which they claimed supported the Russian military. A spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry emphasized that normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian businesses should not be interfered with or affected.

The European Council on Monday adopted its 16th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting multiple sectors including energy, trade, transport, infrastructure and finance, according to a statement issued by the Council, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

According to an official statement, the EU claimed that it has added 53 new entities to the list of those that have been identified as supporting the Russian military-industrial complex or engaged in sanctions circumvention," including 25 from China.   

"We have lodged serious protests to the EU, and we urge the EU to stop smearing China or shirking the responsibility to China while finding no factual grounds, and stop undermining the lawful interests of Chinese companies," Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday. 

Canada and the UK also imposed new sanctions against a number of entities and individuals including some from China. 

In response to an inquiry regarding Canada's announcement to impose sanctions against 76 foreign entities and individuals for providing dual-use items to Russia, including more than 20 Chinese entities, Lin said on Tuesday that Canada's sanctions against Chinese entities are unjustified and preposterous. China firmly opposes it and has lodged serious protests with Canada. 

"Let me stress that China has always upheld a just and objective position on the Ukraine crisis and worked for its political settlement," Lin said, noting that China has never provided lethal weapons to any party of the conflict. It exercises strict export control over dual-use articles and China's scope and measures of export control over drones are the most stringent worldwide," the spokesperson added. 

Following the UK announced on Monday sanctions targeting entities and individuals of several countries, including 10 Chinese entities, allegedly for their supply of vital equipment for the Russian military, the Chinese Embassy in the UK expressed firm opposition and has made solemn representations to the UK side. 

China believes that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out of the crisis and has been committed to promoting talks for peace. China exercises strict export controls over dual-use articles in accordance with laws and regulations, the embassy's spokesperson noted. 

"We never fan the flames or seek selfish gains, and we will certainly not accept being the scapegoat in any way," the embassy's spokesperson said.

While the US is showing signs of engaging in negotiations with Russia, the UK and some major European countries have reiterated their commitment to supporting Ukraine and continuing military assistance, signaling their determination to prolong the conflict, Gao Jian, director of the Center for British Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Ukraine hosted European leaders on Monday to mark three years of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Reuters said. The visitors included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and the leaders of Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Spain and Sweden, according to Reuters. 

The EU's sanctions against Chinese enterprises aim to push China to fully align with the bloc's stance toward Russia and to cooperate with it in economically isolating and pressuring Russia, Dong Yifan, visiting researcher at the school of politics and public administration of Xinjiang University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, this issue has increasingly become a negative factor in China-EU relations, Dong said. 

"Europe hopes to achieve its strategic goals through such measures, especially as the US' policies toward Russia and Ukraine are undergoing significant shifts," Dong said, noting that against this backdrop, Europe is doubling down on its existing approach, particularly by maintaining economic pressure on Russia, in an effort to secure more favorable terms in future negotiations.

China's Ministry of Commerce also expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition against the latest EU sanctions on Tuesday, saying that China will take the necessary measures to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises. 

Following a shift in US policy over Russia-Ukraine conflict, Europe finds itself in a difficult position, Gao said, noting that in response, European countries are escalating economic sanctions against Russia as a way to push back. 

"The US is now engaging in direct negotiations with Russia without involving Europe, which is seen as a major humiliation to Europe's strategic interests," Gao said. 

By intensifying sanctions on Russia, Europe is making its position clear: this escalation is not just about pressuring Russia but also about ensuring that Europe's interests are recognized and protected in any future resolution of the conflict, Gao said.