China threatens US with countermeasures over sanctions against Alipay developers

Chinese authorities will take action against the United States in response to US sanctions against individuals who control and develop applications of several Chinese payment systems, including Alipay, Report states, citing TASS.

"The United States is abusing state power by exerting undue pressure on foreign enterprises," she said at a regular briefing. "Such measures will undoubtedly affect Chinese companies, but American consumers will be the first to suffer. We insist that the United States act on an equal basis of mutual respect. Of course, we will take the necessary countermeasures to protect the legitimate rights of Chinese enterprises," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

According to Hua Chunying, the United States exerts pressure on other states' commercial organizations solely under the pretext of protecting national security, but " continues to act as the largest "hacker empire." "The United States is engaged in secret wiretapping of the conversations of both its citizens and representatives of other states, including its allies," she added.

The official representative stressed that in such a situation, Washington's accusations and sanctions against critical individuals related to Chinese payment systems "should be considered ridiculous," especially given the "advanced level of development of American technologies."

Earlier, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transactions with eight Chinese software applications, including Ant Group's Alipay mobile payment app. According to the head of state, Beijing uses them "to steal or otherwise obtain Americans' data."