Tension escalates as China summons US ambassador over military sanctions
Beijing also recalled naval chief from US and postponed a three-day bilateral military dialogue in Beijing in order to protest sanctions imposed over purchase of Russian military equipment
China summoned America’s ambassador and recalled its naval chief from the US on Saturday to protest sanctions Washington slapped on Chinese entities for procuring military equipment from Russia, and threatened to follow through with additional measures by its military.
Beijing also postponed a three-day bilateral military dialogue in Beijing, which was to begin on Tuesday, and warned of possible further measures if Washington does not withdraw the sanctions, according to reports by China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
The meeting was to be the second of its kind, part of a series of multi-track bilateral dialogues started after US President Donald Trump took office last year.
China’s government called on the US to “immediately correct its mistake, revoke the sanctions, and the Chinese military reserves the right to take further countermeasures”, according to the CCTV report.
China’s response to the sanctions is the latest escalation in tensions between the two countries, and negotiation break-downs, playing out on multiple fronts.