China calls foreign pressures ineffective in achieving national interests

BEIJING: In response to the U.S. request to stop purchasing oil from Iran and Russia, China has declared that it will act based on its national interests, warning that foreign pressures are ineffective. After two days of trade talks with the U.S. in Stockholm, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on social media, “China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security, and economic interests.” Washington has threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods if China does not comply with this request. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bancen remarked to reporters that “the Chinese take sovereignty very seriously. We do not want to interfere in this, so they will incur tariffs.” According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, importing more than one million barrels daily from the country. Following India, China is also the second-largest importer of Russian oil. Recently, the United States has exerted significant pressure on countries that purchase oil from Iran and Russia.