The European Commission has proposed a new set of sanctions against Russia to EU member states. That says a spokesperson in Brussels today. On Wednesday, the ambassadors of the 27 member states will discuss the sanctions package for the first time – the eleventh in the meantime. For the first time, companies from third countries are being targeted because they would circumvent European sanctions. China feels targeted and immediately warns of retaliatory measures.
As usual, the Commission does not want to say anything about the content of the sanctions. Spokesman Eric Mamer could only confirm that the focus is now on the correct implementation of previously adopted measures, their effectiveness and avoiding those sanctions being circumvented.
For example, the Commission wants to prevent goods that are no longer allowed to be exported from finding their way to Russia via third countries. More details are not given, but according to the Financial Times, the Commission would like to sanction seven Chinese companies suspected of exporting material to Russia that could be used for weapons production.
Businesses
Some of those companies are already targeted by the United States. These include 3HC Semiconductors and King-Pai Technology from China itself, and Sinno Electronics and Sigma Technology from Hong Kong. 3HC manufactures semiconductors and would use American parts for its chips and then sell them to the Russian military or to companies in the Russian defense industry.
According to the Financial Times, there is also talk of sanctioning Iranian companies that sell drones to Russia. The list of goods whose export is prohibited would also be expanded.
Undermined
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately said that “mutual trust and cooperation between the EU and China” risk being seriously undermined if the reports are correct. “Global division and confrontation will only increase,” Wang Wenbin warned. “This is very dangerous. We urge the EU not to embark on this wrong path. Otherwise, China will take firm measures to safeguard its legitimate and legal interests.”
For the sanctions to take effect, they must be unanimously approved by the 27 member states. The discussion promises to be anything but easy.
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