MOSCOW – Moscow and Beijing lashed out on Friday at Washington’s newanti-Russian sanctions that also target China for the first time, warningthe United States could face consequences.
The United States is “playing with fire”, Russia’s deputy foreign ministerSergei Ryabkov said, while Beijing voiced “strong indignation” over themove.
United in their resentment of America’s global influence, China and Russiahave sought in recent years to tighten up their ties and this monthconducted week-long joint military drills, Moscow’s largest ever war games.
On Thursday, China — which is also locked in a trade war with Washington —got caught up in the sanctions war against Russia as the United Statesannounced a new raft of measures that would punish third countries fordealing with Moscow.
Stepping up pressure on Moscow over its “malign activities”, the US StateDepartment said it was placing financial sanctions on the EquipmentDevelopment Department of the Chinese Ministry of Defence, and its topadministrator, for its recent purchase of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jetsand S-400 surface-to-air missile systems.
Beijing on Friday urged the United States to withdraw sanctions or “bearthe consequences”.