Sweeping US sanctions target Russia and its helpers in China, Turkey and UAE
The US State Department and Treasury imposed sanctions on more than 250 individuals and entities in Russia, China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (‘UAE’) and Pakistan, taking fresh aim at Russia’s military together with its banking, energy and mining sectors.
In action that coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington, the State Department said it is ‘imposing sanctions on over 100 entities and individuals, including those engaged in sanctions evasion, furthering Russia’s ability to wage its war against Ukraine, and bolstering Russia’s future energy production and export capacity.’
Concurrently, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘OFAC’) targeted more than150 persons and firms, ‘including those engaged in sanctions evasion in numerous third countries, complicit in furthering Russia’s ability to wage its war against Ukraine, and responsible for bolstering Russia’s future energy production and export capacity.’
‘OFAC is designating a network of four entities and nine individuals based in the PRC, the Russian Federation, Hong Kong, and Pakistan involved in the facilitation and procurement of Chinese-manufactured weapons and technologies to Russia,’ said a 12 December press statement.
It added that Chinese national Hu Xiaoxun had used his China-based private defence company Jarvis HK Co., Ltd. and a network of associates to coordinate the sale of Chinese-manufactured weapons and technologies to Russia.
‘Treasury continues to take action to identify and disrupt third-country individuals, entities, and networks that facilitate, arrange, and enable the transfer of key technology, equipment, and inputs to Russian military-industrial base end-users,’ the statement said. It added that many of these items have been identified by the US and its allies as ‘common high priority items’ that Russia seeks to procure for its weapons programs.
‘Today’s action once again underscores Russia’s utilization of Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), as well as the use of complex transnational networks and third-country cut-outs, to acquire much-needed technology and equipment for its war economy,’ Treasury said.
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to the listing of firms or individuals in China.
‘China opposes the US’s unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction,’ she said. ‘The US needs to correct its wrong practice and stop containing and going after Chinese companies. China will do what is necessary to firmly safeguard Chinese companies’ lawful rights and interests.’
Other targets in the latest US sanctions action include entities in Switzerland, Singapore, the Kyrgyz Republic, Maldives and Tajikistan.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1978
