China and India, on Thursday, raised concerns over sweeping new U.S. sanctions legislation targeting Russia that could also hit the two major buyers of Russian energy.
China criticised the measure, while India warned of potential consequences for its relations with Washington and the international energy market.
The legislation, approved by both chambers of Congress, is now awaiting U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature.
It is aimed at restricting Russia’s ability to finance its war against Ukraine.
The measure includes direct sanctions on Russian officials and companies as well as steps targeting Russian oil and gas exports.
It gives Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from countries among the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, and to continue making such purchases.
China maintains “normal economic and trade relations with all countries in the world based on equality and mutual benefit,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing.
Guo said such cooperation was not directed at any third party, adding that other countries should neither interfere nor exert pressure.
According to him, China opposes the extraterritorial application of laws without basis in international law or UN Security Council authorisation.
The dispute also comes at a sensitive time in U.S.-China relations, with Chinese President Xi Jinping expected in Washington next week.
India’s Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said New Delhi had discussed the issue with high-level U.S. officials in recent months.
“Its potential implications for not just the bilateral relationship but also the international energy market have been very clearly articulated by the Indian side.”
The Indian government said it remained “firmly committed” to ensuring energy security for the country’s 1.4 billion people, including by further diversifying its sources of supply.
India is a major importer of Russian crude oil, although purchases fell sharply in August.
Imports from Russia dropped 26.3 per cent from a record level in July to 2.08 million barrels per day in August, the Indian Express reported, citing commodity data provider Kpler.
Russia’s share of crude oil imports consequently fell from almost 60 per cent to 45 per cent.
Russia’s share of India’s crude oil imports fell from nearly 60 per cent to 45 per cent, according to the report.
Kpler said the shift appeared to reflect a normalisation of the market rather than a structural move away from Russian crude.
