BEIJING – China, the top buyer of Iranian oil, dismissed Washington’swarning to Hong Kong that it could face penalties if it provides servicesto a vessel carrying Iranian oil headed for the autonomous territory,saying “normal energy dealings” with Tehran are in accordance with law andshould be respected.
In a Wednesday statement, a spokesman for Chinese Ministry of ForeignAffairs reiterated Beijing’s opposition to the US imposition of “unilateralsanctions and so-called long arm jurisdiction”, The South China MorningPost reported.
“The normal energy dealings between Iran and the international community,including China, that is within the framework of international laws, arereasonable, lawful, and should be respected and protected,” the statementadded.
The response came a day after Washington warned Hong Kong to be on thelookout for the Pacific Bravo carrying Iranian oil that may seek to stop inthe Asia financial hub, and stressed that any entity doing business withthe vessel “would be exposing themselves to US sanctions”.
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The Pacific Bravo is owned by China’s Bank of Kunlun, which has been themain official channel for money flows between China and Iran amid USsanctions on Tehran. It is majority-owned by China National PetroleumCorp’s listed financial arm, CNPC Capital.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau noted ithas been “strictly implementing sanctions decided by the United Nations”,which don’t impose “any restrictions on the export of petroleum from Iran”.
