By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 24: Beijing has hit out at the United States after the latter imposed fresh sanctions on 10 companies and 6 individuals from China and Russia that are trading with North Korea, which the US deems is a rouge nation poised at developing WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) which are aimed especially to United States and its allies.
“Treasury will continue to increase pressure on North Korea by targeting those who support the advancement of nuclear and ballistic missile programs,” US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a press release on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying responded to the move saying, “The Chinese side opposes the unilateral sanctions outside the framework of the UN Security Council, especially the ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ imposed by any other country on the Chinese entities and individuals based on its own domestic laws.”
She said that China has been adherent to global measures in curbing the hermit state’s economy which funnels most of its nuclear programs and that the current move is uncalled for.
“Our efforts are there for all to see. We will investigate and deal with the Chinese enterprises and individuals in accordance with our own domestic laws and regulations provided that they are suspected of violating the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council,” she said.
Chinese state media Global Times also criticized the new sanctions which it argued also hurt Chinese businesses. “The U.S. has acted beyond its authority and its unilateral sanctions are unreasonable. For one thing, how could Washington be confident about the illegal trade between China and North Korea? For another, who grants Washington the right to make judgments on which companies violate UN Security Council resolutions?” questioned the paper.
However experts say that China have on many occasions eased up on sanctions by resuming trade later on. Capital Economics chief commodities analyst Caroline Bain wrote, “China does not have a good record of maintaining sanctions on North Korea. China’s ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach to North Korea is well documented.
“China has also banned imports at times to register its displeasure at North Korea’s military aggression, only for trade to quietly resume after a cooling-off period.”
