China hits out at US for blacklisting firms

China condemned the US for adding 33 Chinese entities to a trade blacklist, a move that risks potential retaliation from Beijing as tensions between the world’s two-biggest economies deteriorate further.

The US Department of Commerce on Saturday expanded its so-called entities list, which restricts access to American technology and other items, to include 24 Chinese companies and universities it said had ties to the military and another 9 entities it accused of human rights violations in Xinjiang.

China’s foreign ministry on Monday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the move as it defended the government’s crackdown in Xinjiang, saying that counter-terrorism measures were taken to prevent the breeding of terrorism and extremism at the source.

“We urge the United States to correct its mistakes, withdraw the relevant decisions, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters. China will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.