Beijing: China on Wednesday criticized reported US plans to impose new restrictions on imports of Chinese optical transceivers and additional tariffs and price controls on polysilicon and related products, saying such measures would harm bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Responding to a question about the reported US plans and what measures Beijing would take to protect Chinese companies, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing "firmly opposes" what it described as Washington's overuse of national security concerns to target Chinese businesses.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lin Jian stated that China firmly opposes the US overstretching the concept of national security and abusing state power to go after Chinese businesses. He argued that protectionist policies would not make the US more competitive and said the reported measures would seriously disrupt normal trade and economic exchanges between Chinese and US companies.

Lin further emphasized that such actions were not in the interest of US businesses and consumers or anyone else for that matter. He reaffirmed China's position by stating that the country would continue to "firmly protect" the legitimate rights and interests of its companies.