China blasts US targeting of Russian energy customers

China "will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard" the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

Lin was replying to a question about a legislative drive in the United States for sanctions on Russia's major oil and gas buyers, including China.

A bipartisan group of US senators championed by late senator Lindsey Graham had introduced a bill on sanctions targeting the top five buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, including China, US media reported.

In response, Lin said, "China firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and have not been authorized by the United Nations Security Council."

"Applying double standards and resorting to coercion and pressure will ultimately only backfire," he said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn