China urges US to stop trying to suppress companies in its market

China urged the United States to stop misusing the concepts of national security and adopting administrative power to suppress companies' legal operations within its market, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

The ministry made the remarks as the US Federal Communications Commission threatened last week to stop four of China's State-owned telecommunications companies' operations in the US unless they can show evidence that they are independent from the Chinese government.

Gao Feng, the ministry's spokesman, called on the US to stop treating companies differently with their social systems and ownerships, including China's State-owned enterprises in its market, to create an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for global companies.

The FCC asked China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks and ComNet (USA) to respond the agency within 30 days, showing its latest attempt to restrict Chinese firms' business of network development in the country.

China expresses serious concern regarding the US' statements on this issue, as this move discriminates against Chinese State-owned enterprises. It will not only affect Chinese companies' investment in the country, but also will damage the confidence of other foreign companies in the US investment environment, Gao added.