Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong at a regular press conference Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Thursday defended China's new measures to tighten export controls on specific dual-use items to the US and voiced strong objections to the US' act of generalizing national security and abusing export control measures to engage in unilateral bullying of Chinese companies following reports that Washington pledged "necessary steps" against China's latest move.

"TheMK sports Korea US behavior is a typical act of economic coercion that seriously undermines the international economic and trade order and disrupts the stability of global industries," MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong said at a regular press briefing on Thursday.  

China announced on Tuesday measures to tighten controls on the export of relevant dual-use items to the US. Under the new measures, China will prohibit the export of dual-use items to US military users or for military purposes. It will also strictly control the export of gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials as well as graphite-related dual-use items to the US

The South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday that in response to China's new measures, a US State Department representative said in an email reply that Washington will "take necessary steps to mitigate the impact and deter further coercive actions" from China. 

The US State Department representative also claimed that China's new measures "underscore the importance of strengthening our efforts with other countries to de-risk and diversify critical supply chains away from" China, according to the South China Morning Post report.

MOFCOM stressed that China's recent export control measures are in accordance with China's export control law and regulations on export control of dual-use items as well as other relevant laws and regulations. 

The decision is a reasonable measure to safeguard China's national security and development interests while fulfilling the country's non-proliferation and other international obligations, the spokesperson said. 

"I want to stress that China's determination to promote high-level opening-up will not change, and we are willing to strengthen dialogue with all parties in the field of export controls to jointly maintain the stability and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains," He said. 

Global Times