China: Criticism of U.S. Move on Iran
China on Wednesday sharply criticized an American move to enforce sanctions against Iran that penalized eight Chinese companies and their owner, Li Fangwei, accused of supplying parts for Iranian ballistic missiles. The move, announced on Tuesday by the Treasury, State and Justice Departments, also offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Mr. Li’s arrest or conviction. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, told reporters in Beijing that “China resolutely opposes the U.S. citing domestic laws to unilaterally impose sanctions on Chinese companies or individuals.” He said the American move “will not help resolve the issue and will harm bilateral cooperation on nonproliferation.” It was unclear whether China’s anger would have an impact on the effectiveness of the American-led sanctions against Iran, which are mostly a response to the Iranian nuclear program. China and the United States are both in the group of big powers negotiating with Iran over its nuclear activities, seeking guarantees that the Iranians will not develop nuclear weapons.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/world/asia/china-criticism-of-us-move-on-iran.html
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