China urges fair play for Chinese companies in US

China on Monday called for fair treatment of Chinese companies in the United States as tensions in trade relations continue to rise.

"We hope the US will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies' investment and operation in the US, rather than taking discriminatory and restrictive measures" said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.

She was responding to reports that the Trump administration is set to add Chinese chipmaker SMIC and oil giant CNOOC to its blacklist of Chinese companies.

Hua also claimed that US law enforcement officers have harassed Chinese ships and crew members, checking whether they were members of the Chinese Communist Party, causing a "serious political provocation."

"If the US insists on escalating its provocative actions, China will definitely take countermeasures," she warned.

On Monday, state-backed China Daily reported that US officers had boarded over 20 ships owned by Chinese shipping giant COSCO Shipping and Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd, citing unidentified sources.

(Image Credit: AP)