BEIJING - China's normal trade and energy cooperation with other countries, including Russia, is legitimate and lawful, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday.

Lin made the comment at a regular press briefing in response to US President Donald Trump's remarks that it's time to get China to do the same thing as he had received an assurance from India to stop buying oil from Russia.

Lin said what the United States has done is typical unilateral bullying and economic coercion, which will severely disrupt international economic and trade rules and threaten safety and stability of global industrial and supply chains.

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Noting that China's position on the Ukraine crisis is objective, just and aboveboard, Lin said China firmly opposes the US directing the issue to China and imposing illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction on China.

He said if China's legitimate rights and interests are harmed, China will take countermeasures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

In response to the move that Britain added Chinese energy companies and port operators to a list of entities sanctioned for supporting the Russian energy sector, Lin said China deplores Britain's decision and has protested to the country.

China opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council, the spokesperson said.

While China is committed to promoting talks for peace on the Ukraine crisis, the normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies should not be disrupted or affected, Lin said.

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China will do what is necessary to firmly defend its legitimate and lawful rights and interests, he added.