- Title: China upset as U.S. sanctions Chinese firm tied to N.Korea nuclear programme
- Date: 27th September 2016
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, WALKING IN FOR REGULAR BRIEFING MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "I want to stress that we oppose any country enacting so-called long arm jurisdiction, using its own domestic laws against a Chinese entity or individual. We have already communicated this position to the U.S. side." MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "First of all, the origin and crux of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue did not lie with China. Secondly, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and close neighbour to the Korean Peninsula, China always makes efforts with relevant parties from the whole situation to safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula and maintain the world's system of nuclear non-proliferation." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
- Embargoed: 12th October 2016 10:54
- Keywords: China North Korea foreign ministry Geng Shuang
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00151CC4ZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday (September 27) it was opposed to any country using its own laws to carry out "long arm jurisdiction", after the United States sanctioned a Chinese industrial machinery wholesaler tied to North Korea's nuclear programme.
The U.S. Treasury said it was sanctioning Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co and four of its executives, including the firm's founder, Ma Xiaohong, under U.S. regulations targeting proliferators of weapons of mass destruction.
It accused the firm of acting on behalf of North Korea's Korea Kwangson Banking Corp (KKBC), which has been under U.S. and U.N. sanctions for supporting proliferation of such weapons.
The U.S. Department of Justice said it had filed criminal charges against the Chinese firm and the executives for using front companies to evade sanctions on North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.
Asked about the move, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China was committed to upholding United Nations resolutions against North Korea, which mandate tough sanctions for its nuclear and missile tests.
Any person or company found in breach of the rules will be punished, and if necessary China will cooperate with other countries on this on the basis of mutual respect and equality, Geng told a daily news briefing.
"I want to stress that we oppose any country enacting so-called long arm jurisdiction, using its own domestic laws against a Chinese entity or individual. We have already communicated this position to the U.S. side," Geng said, without elaborating.
While China is North Korea's sole major ally, it disapproves of its nuclear and missile programmes and was angered by its latest nuclear test.
Beijing has said it will work within the United Nations to formulate a response, but questions remain as to whether it is willing to agree tough enough steps to force North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons.
On Monday (September 26), U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump said China should "go into North Korea" to stop its nuclear plans as China has all the power in the relationship.
Geng said that China has made great efforts to try and bring about the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
"First of all, the origin and crux of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue did not lie with China. Secondly, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and close neighbour to the Korean Peninsula, China always makes efforts with relevant parties from the whole situation to safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula and maintain the world's system of nuclear non-proliferation," Geng told reporters in Beijing at a daily briefing.
Discussions are under way on a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution and the senior U.S. diplomat for Asia said on Friday (September 23) he was confident an agreement would be reached before long, imposing further sanctions and tightening existing ones. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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