War in Ukraine: China fears the backlash of economic sanctions against Russia

An employee of a delivery company picks up packages at a distribution center in Beijing, November 7, 2021. AP - Andy Wong

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Following promises of secondary sanctions from the US Treasury Department in the event of support for Russia, China threatens to retaliate forcefully if these are applied to it because of its link with Russia.

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Beijing, 

Stéphane Lagarde

"

If Westerners continue to pressure Chinese companies, the Chinese government will take decisive countermeasures

," said the spokesperson for Chinese diplomacy.

An official position of firmness which contrasts with the concerns of the economic world, because many are reluctant to support the Russian economy, for fear of sanctions by ricochet.

If China had used secondary banks to counter the sanctions against Iran, this time the exchange rate risk seems too great.

Chinese smartphone makers have seen their exports to Russia plummet

as the ruble plummets.

Sanctions prevent Chinese companies from profiting from the exodus of Western brands.

►Also read: How does China react to the sanctions against its Russian partner?

Same scenario for aircraft spare parts: Airbus and Boeing have stopped their deliveries to Russian companies.

However, according to the Russian civil aviation administration, China would have refused to supply them with second-hand parts.

China must not let its destiny be linked to that of Vladimir Putin

”, assures Hu Wei in a remarkable tribune.

While still a minority voice in the chorus of criticism against the West and pro-Russian backers, the vice president of the Chinese government's public policy research center says backing Russia would lead to isolation of China and a strengthening of the influence of the United States.

The impact of the escalation of Western sanctions could lead to collateral damage posing structural risks to Chinese ambitions.

On its social networks, the

People's Daily

 published this Saturday, March 12, the photo of a freight train which left Gansu province, in northwestern China, for Hamburg in Germany the day before.

However, some believe that Russia's war in Ukraine threatens to at least temporarily cut off the " 

new Chinese silk roads

 " to Europe.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • China

  • Russia

  • Ukraine

  • Economy