China invokes its anti-sanctions law in response to the US blacklisting of oil refiners, marking the first time the 2021 law is used, according to reporting across outlets. The law empowers Beijing to issue countermeasures against foreign entities or individuals that enforce sanctions China considers unlawful. In the latest action described by several sources, China orders firms not to comply with US sanctions affecting five oil refineries. The measures are framed as a way to reduce legal and operational risks for companies caught between US and Chinese requirements.
Multiple outlets explain that the anti-sanctions law, most recently revised in April, gives China flexibility in retaliation. Potential countermeasures can include trade and investment restrictions, as well as limits on entry and exit for affected individuals, depending on how Beijing assesses the case. The reporting emphasizes that the law’s mechanism centers on Beijing’s determination of which sanctions it treats as improper and its ability to counter them through regulatory and legal pressure.
