China blasts US over ‘hegemonic’ missile sanctions

China on Friday blasted the U.S. for imposing “hegemonic” sanctions on Chinese companies accused of “missile technology proliferation.”

In a Federal Register notice published on Friday, the State Department announced sanctions against the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation First Academy, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Fourth Academy and Poly Technologies Incorporated.

The sanctions, which apply to the companies and their subsidiaries, mean that those entities cannot contract with the U.S. government and that their technology cannot be imported into the U.S. The companies are also not allowed to obtain any U.S. technology.

“This is a typical hegemonic action. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters, according to The Associated Press.

“China urges the United States to immediately correct its mistakes, revoke the relevant sanctions and stop suppressing Chinese enterprises and smearing China,” he continued.

China accounted for 5.2 percent of the global share of major arms exports between 2016 and 2021, making it the fifth largest exporter of major arms exports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The U.S., in comparison, accounted for 37 percent of the global share, the institute’s data showed.

Zhao said that China strictly controls is exports of missiles, the AP reported, adding “normal cooperation between China and relevant countries doesn’t violate any international law and doesn’t involve proliferation.”