China blocks US sanctions against five ‘teapot’ refineries

Ministry of Commerce says sanctions against refineries accused of importing Iranian oil violate international law.China has announced an injunction to block US sanctions placed on five Chinese refiners accused ‌of buying oil from Iran.The US sanctions announced by the Department of the Treasury late last month bar the refiners from the US financial system and seek to penalise anyone doing business with the firms.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Tracking the shadow fleet: How Iran evaded the US naval blockade in Hormuzlist 2 of 3Hormuz effect? How US, China are ramping up tensions over the Panama Canallist 3 of 3China urges reversal of UNIFIL departure from Lebanon as conflict escalatesend of listIn a statement on Saturday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the sanctions “improperly” restrict business between Chinese enterprises and third countries “in violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations”.The Commerce Ministry said it had issued a “prohibition order” stipulating that the sanctions “shall not be recognized, enforced, or complied with,” calling the order a move to “safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests”.“The Chinese government has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions that lack UN authorisation and basis in international law,” the ministry added.It said the order blocked US measures against Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery and four other so-called “teapot” refineries: Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical and Shandong ⁠Shengxing Chemical.The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the other four refineries named by the Chinese ministry, among other facilities, last year.