Just hours after Beijing called off trade talks with the US in the biggest escalation of the trade feud between the two nations, the war of words between China and the US ratcheted up on Saturday, when Beijing lashed out again at Washington, saying that China’s decision to buy fighter jets and missile systems from Russia is “a normal act of cooperation between sovereign countries” and the United States has “no right to interfere”, defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Saturday.

“The U.S. approach is a blatant violation of the basic norms of international relations, a full manifestation of hegemony, and a serious breach of the relations between the two countries and their two militaries,” Wu said in a notice posted on the Chinese defense ministry’s official Wechat account according to Reuters.

He also warned that the US would face “consequences” if it did not immediately revoke the sanctions.

The comments came two days after the U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on China’s Equipment Development Department (EED), the branch of the military responsible for weapons procurement, and its director, Li Shangfu, for engaging in “significant transactions” with Rosoboronexport, Russia’s main arms exporter.

The sanctions are related to China’s purchase of 10 SU-35 combat aircraft in 2017 and S-400 surface-to-air missile system-related equipment in 2018, the State Department said. They block the Chinese agency, and Li, from applying for export licenses and participating in the U.S. financial system, Reuters reported previously.

They also followed similar comments on Friday from Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, who told reporters in Beijing that the move seriously harmed bilateral relations and military ties.

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