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| Chinese anger at US sanctions for Russian weapons purchases | Chinese anger at US sanctions for Russian weapons purchases |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| China has told the US to withdraw sanctions on its military over purchases of Russian jets and missiles or "bear the consequences". | China has told the US to withdraw sanctions on its military over purchases of Russian jets and missiles or "bear the consequences". |
| The US says China has contravened US sanctions on Moscow introduced over Russian actions in Ukraine and alleged interference in US politics. | The US says China has contravened US sanctions on Moscow introduced over Russian actions in Ukraine and alleged interference in US politics. |
| China recently bought 10 Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 missiles. | China recently bought 10 Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 missiles. |
| Beijing has not joined in the sanctions imposed on Moscow by the US and its Western allies since 2014. | Beijing has not joined in the sanctions imposed on Moscow by the US and its Western allies since 2014. |
| Its forces took part in giant Russian war games held earlier this month. | Its forces took part in giant Russian war games held earlier this month. |
| China is fast becoming a manufacturer of sophisticated weaponry in its own right but it remains eager to buy advanced Russian weaponry, especially air defence systems and combat aircraft. | China is fast becoming a manufacturer of sophisticated weaponry in its own right but it remains eager to buy advanced Russian weaponry, especially air defence systems and combat aircraft. |
| Moscow - after years of some reluctance - is now more willing to transfer this sort of weaponry to Beijing. | Moscow - after years of some reluctance - is now more willing to transfer this sort of weaponry to Beijing. |
| Russia has also criticised the sanctions on the Chinese military, warning the US against "playing with fire". | Russia has also criticised the sanctions on the Chinese military, warning the US against "playing with fire". |
| "It would be good for them to remember there is such a concept as global stability which they are thoughtlessly undermining by whipping up tensions in Russian-American ties," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in a statement. | "It would be good for them to remember there is such a concept as global stability which they are thoughtlessly undermining by whipping up tensions in Russian-American ties," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in a statement. |
| US officials have said the sanctions are aimed at Russia, and are not intended to undermine other countries' defence capabilities and similar action against other countries could be considered. | US officials have said the sanctions are aimed at Russia, and are not intended to undermine other countries' defence capabilities and similar action against other countries could be considered. |
| Are sanctions a fading weapon? | Are sanctions a fading weapon? |
| By Jonathan Marcus, BBC Defence & Diplomatic Correspondent | By Jonathan Marcus, BBC Defence & Diplomatic Correspondent |
| The target of these sanctions is Russia rather than China but the impact is likely to be to encourage co-operation between Beijing and Moscow who, to a large extent, already share a worldview and resist what they see as Washington's efforts to throw its weight around. | The target of these sanctions is Russia rather than China but the impact is likely to be to encourage co-operation between Beijing and Moscow who, to a large extent, already share a worldview and resist what they see as Washington's efforts to throw its weight around. |
| China's developing military relationship with Russia was underscored by its participation at the recent Vostok exercises and it is not going to halt sophisticated weapons purchases from Russia. | China's developing military relationship with Russia was underscored by its participation at the recent Vostok exercises and it is not going to halt sophisticated weapons purchases from Russia. |
| The US move could just deepen the already tense trading relationship with Beijing. Sanctions may be a good way of registering US displeasure and causing Russia economic pain, but they may well not produce the desired outcome, a change in Russian policy. | The US move could just deepen the already tense trading relationship with Beijing. Sanctions may be a good way of registering US displeasure and causing Russia economic pain, but they may well not produce the desired outcome, a change in Russian policy. |
| The world's economic balance of power is slowly changing - sanctions imposed by a once-dominant US is a weapon that is gradually weakening and some believe their overuse could accelerate this process. | The world's economic balance of power is slowly changing - sanctions imposed by a once-dominant US is a weapon that is gradually weakening and some believe their overuse could accelerate this process. |
| Who is affected by the sanctions? | Who is affected by the sanctions? |
| China's Equipment Development Department (EDD), which is responsible for improving China's military technology, and its head, Li Shangfu, are sanctioned for completing "significant transactions" with Russia's state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport. | |
| The EDD and Mr Li have been added to a Blocked Persons List, meaning any assets they hold in the US are frozen and Americans are "generally prohibited" from doing business with them. | The EDD and Mr Li have been added to a Blocked Persons List, meaning any assets they hold in the US are frozen and Americans are "generally prohibited" from doing business with them. |
| Furthermore, the EDD is denied export licences and excluded from the American financial system. | Furthermore, the EDD is denied export licences and excluded from the American financial system. |
| Washington also blacklisted an additional 33 people and entities associated with Russian military and intelligence. | Washington also blacklisted an additional 33 people and entities associated with Russian military and intelligence. |
| What other US-China tensions are there? | |
| The two countries are currently embroiled in an escalating trade war. | |
| President Donald Trump has imposed three waves of tariffs on about 40% of China's roughly $500bn of exports to the US and has also threatened further tariffs. | |
| China has responded with tariffs on about $110bn of US exports. In 2017 China imported about $130bn of goods from the US. | |
| There have also been some tensions over disputed territory in the South China Sea, which is subject to overlapping claims by six countries. | |
| China has been accused of militarising the sea to support its vast claims. | |
| The US says it is "committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific" and has sailed warships close to artificial islands built by Beijing to challenge what it sees as Chinese efforts to restrict freedom of navigation in a strategically important area. |