This file photo shows Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian at a regular press conference on March 5, 2020, in Beijing, China. (PHOTO COURTESY OF FOREIGN MINISTRY OF THE PRC)

The United States’ decision to impose sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals for their involvement in construction in the South China Sea was unjustified as these activities happened in their own country, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Thursday.

China will take firm measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its companies and individuals, Zhao said at a news briefing

China will take firm measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its companies and individuals, Zhao said at a news briefing.

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The US on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies and individuals that it said were involved in construction in the South China Sea. 

Zhao said China is firmly opposed to the sanctions and urged the US to rectify its mistakes and immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs.

China's relevant constructions on its own territory are completely within the scope of its sovereignty and have nothing to do with militarization, Zhao said.

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He said it is reasonable, legal and beyond dispute for Chinese companies and individuals to participate in construction in their own country, while the illegal sanctions imposed by the United States on them on such pretext is unreasonable.

US sanctions, which involve typical hegemonic logic and power politics, have blatantly interfered in China's internal affairs, violated international law and norms governing international relations, Zhao said.

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With inputs from Xinhua