US trade sanctions on China an attempt to ‘frighten’ firms amid soaring Russian energy imports
- Addition of five Chinese firms to the US ‘entity list’ an attempt by Washington to ‘kill the chicken to frighten the monkey’, Chinese analyst says
- Despite mounting Western pressure for Beijing to distance itself from Moscow, China’s imports of Russian energy have soared since April
The Biden administration’s addition of five Chinese companies to an export blacklist for allegedly providing support to the Russian military is a warning shot for bigger state-owned firms, who have ramped up Russian energy imports since the Ukraine war started in late February, experts said.
The blacklisting is an attempt by Washington to “kill the chicken to frighten the monkey” – a Chinese idiom that refers to making an example out of someone to scare others – said Shi Yinhong, an international relations professor at Renmin University and former adviser to the State Council, China’s cabinet.
“Overall, the Chinese government has stayed highly alert to avoid US sanctions [since the Ukraine war broke out],” Shi said.
“On the other hand, it has been increasing trade with Russia. The Chinese government needs to consider how it will handle these contradictions.”
Despite mounting Western pressure for Beijing to distance itself from Moscow, China’s imports of Russian energy have soared since April, with steep discounts available from suppliers facing Western sanctions.
