<p>A ban by the United States to stop China Telecom from operating in the country on national security concerns is "malicious suppression", Beijing said Thursday, warning it would damage a tentative thaw in relations.</p>.<p>Tensions are high between the world's two biggest economies on a plethora of fronts, including trade, human rights, Taiwan and the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>Earlier this week Washington ordered China Telecom Americas to discontinue its services within 60 days -- ending nearly 20 years of operations in the country and piling further strain on relations between the superpowers.</p>.<p>The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said China Telecom's "ownership and control by the Chinese government raise significant national security and law enforcement risks".</p>.<p>But Beijing rejected the move as a "generalisation of the concept of national security, abuse of national power and malicious suppression of a Chinese company without basis in facts".</p>.<p>Commerce ministry spokeswoman Shu Yuting told a press briefing that China's economic and trade team has "lodged solemn representations" with the United States and that Beijing is seriously concerned by the ban.</p>.<p>The announcement came hours after Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held trade discussions via video call that Beijing described as "pragmatic, candid and constructive".</p>.<p>But Shu said Thursday that the announcement from Washington had "undermined the atmosphere of cooperation" between the sides.</p>.<p>The latest move in the long-running standoff comes as US President Joe Biden presses ahead with a hardline trade policy against Beijing broadly in line with that of his predecessor Donald Trump, whose bombastic approach sent tensions soaring.</p>.<p>China Telecom spokesman Ge Yu told AFP that the FCC's decision was "disappointing".</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>A ban by the United States to stop China Telecom from operating in the country on national security concerns is "malicious suppression", Beijing said Thursday, warning it would damage a tentative thaw in relations.</p>.<p>Tensions are high between the world's two biggest economies on a plethora of fronts, including trade, human rights, Taiwan and the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>Earlier this week Washington ordered China Telecom Americas to discontinue its services within 60 days -- ending nearly 20 years of operations in the country and piling further strain on relations between the superpowers.</p>.<p>The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said China Telecom's "ownership and control by the Chinese government raise significant national security and law enforcement risks".</p>.<p>But Beijing rejected the move as a "generalisation of the concept of national security, abuse of national power and malicious suppression of a Chinese company without basis in facts".</p>.<p>Commerce ministry spokeswoman Shu Yuting told a press briefing that China's economic and trade team has "lodged solemn representations" with the United States and that Beijing is seriously concerned by the ban.</p>.<p>The announcement came hours after Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held trade discussions via video call that Beijing described as "pragmatic, candid and constructive".</p>.<p>But Shu said Thursday that the announcement from Washington had "undermined the atmosphere of cooperation" between the sides.</p>.<p>The latest move in the long-running standoff comes as US President Joe Biden presses ahead with a hardline trade policy against Beijing broadly in line with that of his predecessor Donald Trump, whose bombastic approach sent tensions soaring.</p>.<p>China Telecom spokesman Ge Yu told AFP that the FCC's decision was "disappointing".</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>