"Stop bullying" China, 59 of its firms in the US blacklist of China

 China's Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday that it "strongly opposes" the move, which would affect the country's largest chipmaker, SMIC, and vowed to "take necessary measures to protect the rights of Chinese companies" .

Beijing: Washington on Saturday accused the United States of "bullying" after it announced export control over dozens of Chinese companies over alleged ties with China's military.

The announcement - in the final week of President Donald Trump's term - soured his administration after relations between Washington and Beijing led the US to launch a trade war with China and expand its list of sanctioned entities to a few hundred Chinese companies. Told to do with. And subsidiaries.

China's Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday that it "strongly opposes" the move, which would affect the country's largest chipmaker, SMIC, and vowed to "take necessary measures to protect the rights of Chinese companies" .

The ministry accused the United States of "persistent abuse of export controls and other measures" to suppress foreign entities, and urged Washington to "prevent unilateralism and bullying."

In a statement, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said that the designation, which restricts US companies' abilities to do business with companies, violated human rights, activities of the Chinese military, especially in the South China Sea, including several allegations. Are more than. As well as the theft of American technology.

New US sanctions have targeted SMIC, including 59 companies and affiliated companies in mainland China, as well as SMIC's Hong Kong unit and entities in Bulgaria and France and more than half a dozen other countries in Pakistan.

"China's corrupt and threatening behavior harms US national security interests both inside and outside its borders, undermines the sovereignty of our allies and partners, and violates the human rights and honor of ethnic and religious minority groups, "Ross said.

"Commerce will act to ensure that America's technology - developed and produced according to open and free-market principles - is not used for malicious or abusive purposes."

SMIC has received billions of dollars in support from Beijing and is at the heart of its efforts to improve the country's technical self-sufficiency.

The designation means that American companies must apply for a license before exporting to SMIC, and specifically target the Chinese firm's ability to produce the best-in-class chips in the industry, 10 nanometers or smaller. .