China opposes US blacklisting of three Chinese entities

China expressed strong opposition to the United States' decision to blacklist three Chinese entities and pledged to take necessary measures to safeguard its interests, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

The US Department of Homeland Security announced in a notice on Wednesday that it had added three Chinese biotechnology companies, including BGI Genomics, to the entity list under the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" under the pretext of "forced labor" in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The US measures have no factual basis, a spokesperson with the ministry said in a statement, accusing Washington of repeatedly manipulating human rights issues to pursue unilateral protectionism and bullying under the guise of protecting human rights.

There is no such thing as "forced labor" in China, the spokesperson said, adding that people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang enjoy freedom and equality in employment, with their labor rights effectively protected by law.

Washington had recently placed a large number of Chinese entities on the list, prompting Beijing to lodge solemn representations and take firm countermeasures, the spokesperson noted.

Despite China's strong opposition, the US has persisted in imposing new sanctions, targeting Chinese biotechnology companies, the spokesperson added.

"Such actions run counter to the consensus reached by the two heads of state, seriously undermine the stability of China-US economic and trade relations, and go against the spirit of humanitarianism," the spokesperson said.

The US should immediately stop political maneuvering, smear campaigns and its unwarranted suppression of Chinese enterprises, the spokesperson said.

"China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its own interests," the spokesperson added.