In the Q&A issued by the ministry's press office and reposted by Huanqiu, the spokesperson said the ministry had noted the matter and that the US had imposed unilateral sanctions citing third-party involvement. This, the spokesperson said, violates international law and basic norms of international relations, and China firmly opposes it.

China's complaints

The spokesperson said the US has recently escalated sanctions and pressure on China and rolled out several discriminatory restrictions in quick succession. These measures, the statement argued, seriously harm Chinese companies, run counter to important understandings reached by the two leaders and undermine the stability of China-US economic and trade ties.

China urged the US to correct its approach promptly and reserved the right to take necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests. The Q&A did not say what specific measures might follow.

What is not confirmed

The report did not name the sanctioned companies or give detailed grounds. Some speculation links the move to Cuba, but the Huanqiu text we reviewed does not support that, so it cannot be confirmed. The US State Department's own explanation could not be checked within this research.

The original Q&A also carried no publication date. With trade and sanctions issues continuing between the two countries, whether further responses follow remains to be seen.