Republican senators introduced a bill Tuesday aimed at sanctioning Chinese purchases of Russian oil, according to a Wednesday press release.
Republican Senators Marco Rubio, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Rick Scott of Florida proposed a bill aimed at fining organizations that insure or register fuel tankers delivering oil or liquefied natural gas from Russia to China, according to the press release. The senators claim that the Chinese Communist Party is funding Putin’s war effort in Ukraine by purchasing Russian oil and gas. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Barrasso Demands Answers From DOE About The Biden Admin’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve Releases To China)
The world’s largest energy user, China, increased its purchases of Russian crude oil this year by purchasing discounted barrels that European purchasers rejected due to the sanctions they placed on Russia.
“Any entity, including Chinese state-run companies, helping them in that effort should face serious consequences,” said Sen. Rubio in a statement.
“As Russia continues its violent invasion of Ukraine and tries to ship oil to Communist China, Congress can make clear that Americans will have no part of it,” said Sen. Scott.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing to discuss President Bidens fiscal year 2023 budget request for the National Institute of Health on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on May 17, 2022. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ANNA ROSE LAYDEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Zhao Lijian, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded by claiming that Rubio blames “everything” on China in a Wednesday press conference in Beijing.
“China is always against unilateral, illegal sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law,” Zhao added.
“The Countering Communist China’s Financing of Russia’s War on Ukraine Act imposes economic sanctions to stop the sale of Russian petroleum exports to China and further cripple the Russian war chest,” Sen. Cramer also stated.
The offices of Rubio, Cramer and Scott referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to the press release when asked for comment.
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