China threatens to strike back after US Huawei ban
China has threatened to retaliate against the US after President Donald Trump signed an executive order effectively blocking American companies from working with telecoms firm Huawei.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang slammed the use of unilateral sanctions on Chinese firms and said the country would take action.
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“We urge the US to stop its wrong practices, create conditions for Chinese and American companies to carry out normal trade and cooperation, and avoid causing more damage to bilateral economic and trade ties,” Lu said.
“The Chinese side will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of our companies.”
The comments came after Trump brought in new legislation preventing US firms from working with companies that pose a threat to national security.
While the order did not name any specific countries or companies, it is believed to be an attack on Huawei.
But China has hit back at the measures, accusing Trump of using national security as a “catch-all phrase” in an ongoing trade war between the two countries.
“If our companies are treated unfairly, we are definitely entitled to take necessary measures to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests,” Lu said.
China and the US have been ramping up tariffs since negotiators failed to reach a trade deal agreement last week.
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“We are ready and willing to engage with the US government and come up with effective measures to ensure product security,” a Huawei spokesperson said after the executive order was announced.
“Restricting Huawei from doing business in the US will not make the US more secure or stronger; instead, this will only serve to limit the US to inferior yet more expensive alternatives, leaving the US lagging behind in 5G deployment, and eventually harming the interests of US companies and consumers.”