BEIJING: China’s Ministry of Commerce has strongly opposed the US decision to place several Chinese companies on the export control list over Russia-related issues, according to state media reports on Sunday.

The United States placed 105 Russian and Chinese companies on a trade restriction list on Friday because of their alleged support for the Russian military.

The sanctions target individuals and companies inside and outside Russia “whose products and services enable Russia to sustain its war effort and evade sanctions,” the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

The companies – 42 Chinese, 63 Russian and 18 from other countries – were targeted for reasons ranging from supplying American electronics to parties linked to the Russian military to producing thousands of Shahed-136 drones for Russian use in the invasion of Ukraine.

US suppliers must obtain difficult-to-obtain licenses to be allowed to deliver to companies on the so-called “Entity List”.

“This move is a typical unilateral sanction that disrupts international trade order and rules, hinders normal international economic and trade exchanges, and threatens the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains,” the ministry said.

It further said that China will take necessary measures to resolutely protect the legitimate rights of its companies.

The US has repeatedly warned China against its support for the Russian arms industry.