China on Monday voiced strong opposition and firm condemnation of the European Union’s latest sanctions package, which includes Chinese firms and two financial institutions allegedly linked to Russia’s war efforts.

According to Xinhua News Agency, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce criticized the EU’s move, accusing it of “unilaterally imposing sanctions on Chinese companies based on unfounded accusations” and ignoring Beijing’s repeated objections.

“The EU has disregarded China’s legitimate concerns and taken unilateral actions lacking any legal basis,” the spokesperson said.

The condemnation follows the EU’s adoption of its 18th package of sanctions against Russia last Friday, a response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The new measures target entities suspected of supporting Moscow’s military operations, including several Chinese firms.

The Chinese government emphasized that such actions violate international norms and harm the mutual trust and economic cooperation between China and the EU. Beijing also signaled it would take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its businesses.