Recently, the focus of the game between China and the United States has gradually shifted to normal trade between China and Russia.
In this regard, the Chinese side has formulated corresponding countermeasures to safeguard national interests and the smooth progress of economic and trade cooperation.
So, what exactly is China's response?
At the same time, what important information does the latest developments in Sino-Russian trade reveal?
On the 9th of this month, China's Ministry of Commerce made a solemn response to the unreasonable sanctions imposed by the United States on 20 Chinese-funded enterprises.
He Yadong, spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, said in a firm and clear manner that China has always opposed any unilateral sanctions that lack the basis of international law and the authorization of the UN Security Council.
He severely criticized this act of the United States, holding that it is unilateral bullying and economic coercion, which has seriously damaged the international economic and trade order and the process of globalization.
In order to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, China will take corresponding countermeasures to resolutely respond to the unreasonable actions of the United States.
The incident comes against the backdrop of sanctions imposed by the United States on nearly 300 entities and individuals, including 20 companies based in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, on the grounds of so-called "support for Russia's military and energy sectors."
These companies operate in a wide range of sectors, including satellite navigation, shipping, drone procurement, and defense.
The U.S. side also claims that the move is to deter Russia from circumventing sanctions through third countries.
However, anyone with a discerning eye can see that this is just another false topic of "China's assistance to Russia" that the United States is hyping up, trying to use this as an excuse to suppress Chinese-funded enterprises and interfere with normal economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia.
An in-depth analysis of the recent U.S. sanctions against Chinese companies shows that the Biden administration has shifted the main battlefield of U.S.-China competition to the closer relationship between China and Russia.
In particular, the continuous growth of Sino-Russian trade has become a thorn in the heart of the United States.
According to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs of China, from January to April this year, the trade volume between China and Russia increased by 4.7% year-on-year, reaching a staggering $76.581 billion.
Among them, China's exports to Russia amounted to 32.734 billion US dollars, although it decreased by 1.9% year-on-year, but imports from Russia increased significantly, reaching 43.847 billion US dollars, an increase of 10.2% year-on-year.
This data fully demonstrates the vitality and potential of Sino-Russian trade.
Last year, the total trade between China and Russia reached 240.1 billion US dollars, with a growth rate of 26.3%.
According to the current growth trend, there is a high probability that the total trade volume between China and Russia this year will surpass that of last year, setting a new historical record.
This trend not only highlights the complementarity and potential for cooperation between the economies of China and Russia, but also reflects the important position of both sides in the global economic landscape.
However, in the face of the booming trade between China and Russia, the United States has shown great dissatisfaction and anxiety.
In the eyes of American politicians, the close trade ties between China and Russia are seen as a "threat" that they cannot tolerate.
They claim that this trade cooperation between China and Russia is "intentional" to provide economic support to Russia as a way to "counter" Western sanctions and pressure.
Such absurd logic and accusations have undoubtedly exposed the narrow-mindedness and hegemonic nature of US politicians.
In fact, the purpose behind the U.S. push for the Russia-Ukraine conflict is to use Ukraine to consume and weaken Russia.
However, the growth of Sino-Russian trade has disrupted this strategic layout of the United States, making it difficult to achieve its goal of consuming Russia.
Therefore, the United States began to turn the spearhead to China, trying to interfere with and undermine economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia by imposing sanctions on Chinese-funded enterprises and other means.
This practice not only violates the principles of market economy and international economic and trade rules, but also undermines the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains.
In the face of unreasonable sanctions and suppression by the United States, China has shown a firm attitude and determination.
The MOFCOM's response is a clear expression of China's solemn position and response measures.
At the same time, in response to the topic of "China's assistance to Russia" that the United States has been hyping up, the Chinese side has also vigorously refuted and clarified.
First of all, trade cooperation between China and Russia is based on equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation, and is fully in line with WTO rules and market principles.
This cooperation will not be affected or changed by external interference and coercion from the United States.
Second, as a responsible major country, China has always adhered to the concept of a peaceful, just and cooperative international order, and is neither a creator nor a party to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Therefore, it is completely unreasonable for the United States to try to use the Russia-Ukraine conflict to coerce or blame China.
In addition, on the one hand, the United States has unwarranted accusations and suppression of normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia, and on the other hand, it has provided large-scale assistance to Ukraine and promoted the continuous escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
This kind of double standard and hypocrisy fully exposes that the United States is the real culprit that has caused the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to continue for two years.
On this issue, the United States has no qualifications or authority to point fingers at China or make judgments on China.
On the contrary, US politicians should deeply reflect on their own behavior and stop their despicable acts of using international events to attack China and interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
In addition to imposing unreasonable sanctions on Chinese-funded enterprises, the United States has also tried to interfere with and undermine economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia by more extreme means.
For example, U.S. anti-China Congressman Marco Rubio has proposed a proposal to ban Sino-Russian cooperation, which proposes to freeze the funds and assets of Chinese entities in the United States if they are found to be trading with Russia bypassing the Western-dominated financial system.
Such an extreme move not only violates the principles of market economy and international economic and trade rules, but also seriously damages the economic and trade relations and investment environment between China and the United States.
At the same time, it also reflects the deep anxiety and unease that the United States has about the close relationship between China and Russia.
However, it should be emphasized that trade cooperation between China and Russia is based on equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
Such cooperation is not only in the common interests of both sides, but also conducive to the stability and prosperity of the global economy.
Therefore, any attempt to interfere with and undermine such cooperation would be futile.
China will firmly safeguard its own interests and the smooth progress of economic and trade cooperation, and at the same time call on the international community to jointly uphold the multilateral trading system and international economic and trade rules, and promote the sustained and healthy development of the global economy.