Damir Sagolj/Reuters
China’s foreign ministry on Saturday summoned the U.S. ambassador in Beijing to protest sanctions against a Chinese military agency and its director, ratcheting up tensions further after Beijing called off upcoming trade talks with Washington. Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang reportedly lodged “stern representations” to Ambassador Terry Branstad over the sanctions. The U.S. State Department announced the sanctions against China’s Equipment Development Department on Thursday, saying the agency had made “significant transactions” with Rosoboronexport, the Russian arms exporter blacklisted by the U.S. China has also canceled upcoming trade talks with the U.S. after President Trump announced new tariffs earlier this week, according to The Wall Street Journal. Sources cited by the Journal said Chinese officials intend to show the Trump administration that they won’t be swayed by pressure tactics. “Nothing the U.S. has done has given any impression of sincerity and goodwill,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday, urging Washington to “correct its mistakes.”