US-CHINA: MOFCOM Decries US Sanctions On Firms Accused Of Russia Drone Supply

(MNI) London - Wires carrying comments from a Chinese Commerce Ministry spox. Says, in relation to US sanctions imposed on firms engaged in drone development, that "China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction without the basis of international law and the authorisation of the UN Security Council". Says that "China will resolutely safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests." Spox: "China opposes any malicious acts of suppressing and sanctioning Chinese enterprises on the pretext of Russia". 

• The sanctions on two Chinese firms that Washington, D.C., alleges are making drones for use by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine were announced by the Treasury Dep't last week. CNN: "The Chinese companies had collaborated with Russian defense firms in the production of Moscow’s “Garpiya series” long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, the department said [...]. The drones were designed, developed and made in China before being sent to Russia for use in [sic] the battlefield,"
• China has long denied that it supplies any frontline weaponry to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, but the increasingly close economic, diplomatic, and military relationship between Moscow and Beijing remains a major source of concern for the US both in terms of countering the Russian assault on Ukraine, but also in terms of maintaining economic competitiveness and so-called 'great power rivalry'.