China said on Tuesday it would react “strictly and forcefully” if the European Union imposed sanctions on Chinese companies accused of selling equipment for Russia to use in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Qin Gang said China “will take the necessary response to firmly protect the legitimate interests of Chinese companies.”

After talks in Berlin with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Qin said Chinese and Russian companies enjoy “normal exchanges and cooperation” that “should not be affected.”

As first reported by the Financial Times on Sunday, the EU has proposed sanctions against Chinese companies accused of selling equipment that could be used in weapons to support Russia’s war machine.

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Seven Chinese companies have been listed in a new package of sanctions to be discussed by EU member states this week, the report said, citing a copy of the sanctions list seen by the newspaper.

Two mainland Chinese companies, 3HC Semiconductors and King-Pai Technology, are on the sanctions list, along with five from Hong Kong: Sinno Electronics, Sigma Technology, Asia Pacific Links, Tordan Industry and Alpha Trading Investments.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin urged the EU to avoid taking the “wrong path,” otherwise it will take firm measures to safeguard its rights and interests.

“China opposes actions that use China-Russia cooperation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions or long-arm jurisdiction against China,” Wang said at a regular press conference.

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Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine 14 months ago, which Russian President Vladimir Putin called a “special military operation,” the EU has adopted 10 packages of sanctions against Russian individuals and companies, inflicting economic hardship and hampering financing of the war

EU ambassadors will meet on Wednesday to begin discussions on the 11th round of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.

China has tried to assure the world that it is neutral in the Ukraine war, but has politically supported Russia. Last month, Qin promised that China would not sell weapons to either side.

In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US had intelligence suggesting China was considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia and warned that such involvement in the Kremlin’s war effort would a “serious problem”.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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