BEIJING -- The Chinese government has expressed strong opposition to US sanctions on a Chinese military defense firm and urged they be lifted immediately.

The United States imposed the sanctions according to its domestic laws, an act that has seriously violated norms governing international relations and harmed China's interests, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the act, and it has lodged a solemn representation to the US side, spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement.

"We urge the United States to immediately correct the wrongdoing, lift the groundless sanctions on this company and its individuals, and stop actions that will hurt China's interests and Sino-US relations," the spokesperson said.

China is committed to upholding the international non-proliferation regime, according to Hua, who added that the country has in place a set of export control laws and measures that fit in with international standards and with strict and effective law enforcement.

Instead of sanction threats, the two sides should base their relationship on equality and mutual benefit, and meet each other halfway when making efforts to advance pragmatic cooperation on non-proliferation, Hua urged.