China denounced a measure by the US Department of Commerce on Monday. United States Expand its so-called list of Chinese corporate entities, which have restrictions on doing business with American companies, for alleged human rights violations in the Uighur Autonomous Region of Xinjian.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its “great dissatisfaction” with this decision during a briefing with journalists, according to Bloomberg News.
See also: “It’s time for China to blink first,” said Representative Sherman, who leads the campaign to eliminate China’s actions.
“We urge the United States to correct its mistakes, withdraw the relevant decisions and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. “China will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and safeguard the national interests of sovereignty, security and development.”
Stocks in Asia, China and Hong Kong closed slightly higher on Monday with Chinese CSI
000300,
+ 0.13%
gained 0.1% and the Shanghai composite index
SHCOMP
+ 0.14%
up 0.3%. Hong Kong Hang Seng Index
HSI
+ 0.09%
It finished 0.1%, although it fell 6.9% in May, according to FactSet.
The Commerce Department’s Office of Industry and Security maintains the list of entities as a “tool used to restrict the export of certain sensitive technologies and components to organizations engaged in activities that threaten national security or political interests foreigner from the United States. ” according to William Carter, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The U.S. added dozens of Chinese companies last fall in the midst of a trade battle that had grown to encompass concerns about U.S. technological dominance, particularly in the context of the race to building an increasingly powerful artificial intelligence. .
Friday, the commerce department added nine Chinese organizations on the list, arguing in a press release that “they are complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in the campaign of repression, mass arbitrary arrest, forced labor and high surveillance technology against Uighurs, Kazakhs and other members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. “
The extension of the list took place against the backdrop of intense Sino-American tensions after the announcement that the Chinese parliament would consider a bill that would allow the Chinese authorities to limit the activity of the opposition party in Hong Kong, including protests or entering into talks with international allies, without the measure being reviewed by the Hong Kong legislature.
Read more: “Worst Nightmare Happens Before Our Eyes,” Says Democratic Lawmaker After Beijing Mobilized to Pass Security Laws in Hong Kong
Meanwhile, a new bill is gaining momentum in Washington, which could foreclose major Chinese stocks like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
VASE
-5.87%
and JD.com Inc.
JD
-5.07%
American stock exchanges. Wednesday, after the passage of the bill by the Senate and a similar bill was tabled in the House of Representatives.