Beijing calls new EU sanctions on two Chinese tech companies unlawful and urges Brussels to correct its actions.

BEIJING: China has condemned new European Union sanctions against two Chinese technology companies over alleged cyberattacks as “unlawful”.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian urged Brussels to “rectify its erroneous practices” during a news briefing on Tuesday.

The EU Council sanctioned China-based Integrity Technology Group and Anxun Information Technology on Monday. It accused them of helping to hack “critical infrastructure” and tens of thousands of devices across the European Union.

The sanctions also target Anxun’s two Chinese co-founders and the Iranian hacking group Emennet Pasargad.

European citizens and companies are now banned from providing funds to the sanctioned Chinese companies. The two Chinese founders are also forbidden from “entering or transiting through EU territories”.

“China firmly opposes the EU’s unlawful, unilateral sanctions against Chinese entities,” Lin stated.

Beijing called for cooperation in a “responsible and constructive manner to safeguard peace, stability and prosperity in cyberspace”.

The United Kingdom also sanctioned China-based Integrity and Anxun in December. It accused them of “reckless and indiscriminate cyberattacks”.

 The Sun Malaysia