China rejects US sanctions bill targeting Russia trade partners like India
China on Thursday rejected what it called the US policy of “long-arm jurisdiction” after the US House of Representatives passed a bill that authorises President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Russia and steep tariffs on its leading trading partners such as India and China.
Responding to questions on the bill, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing’s normal trade and economic cooperation with other countries should not be subject to interference or coercion by third parties. It also said China opposes actions that do not have authorisation from the UN Security Council.
The US House passed the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act 2026 on Wednesday. The bill had already been cleared by the Senate last month and was approved by the House in a 262-159 vote. It will now go to Trump to be signed into law.
The legislation aims to punish Russia for continuing the war against Ukraine. It also provides for steep tariffs on major trading partners of Russia, including India and China.
Asked about the bill at a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, “China consistently opposes long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law and is not authorised by the United Nations Security Council.”
He said China has always carried out normal economic and trade cooperation with countries around the world based on equality and mutual benefit. “Such cooperation neither targets any third party nor is subject to interference or coercion from any third party”, he said.
Beijing has repeatedly opposed unilateral sanctions. It has also defied US sanctions on buying oil from Iran.
China, along with India, is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas. Much of China’s imports are transported through pipelines crossing its land border. According to official data, China’s imports of Russian oil and gas stood at USD 64 billion last year, while imports from January to August this year crossed USD 70 billion.
With the bill now headed to Trump for his approval, China has made clear its opposition to any move that, it says, seeks to interfere with its trade and economic ties with other countries.
