US Congressional Committee Urges Action on China's Reported Sanctioned Oil Purchases

A bipartisan committee in the U.S. House of Representatives has recommended that the Trump administration implement measures to address China's reported acquisition of oil from nations under international sanctions. The panel, tasked with examining policy challenges related to Beijing, contends that existing enforcement mechanisms are insufficient. According to data from Kpler referenced in a report released on Tuesday, China's imports of oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela subject to sanctions reached 2.6 million barrels daily in 2025, representing approximately 25% of its total maritime oil imports. The committee argues that Western sanctions have not successfully reduced revenue to these countries but have instead allowed China to obtain discounted petroleum. In response to previous similar allegations, Chinese officials have maintained their opposition to unilateral sanctions they view as lacking legal foundation. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not provide an immediate comment to the South China Morning Post, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not replied by the time of publication. The report calls for targeting port operators and disrupting intricate financial networks to strengthen enforcement.