(LEAD) U.S. calls China's Hanwha sanctions attempt to undermine Korea-U.S. cooperation, vows to stand 'firmly' with Korea

▲ This photo, provided by Hanwha Ocean, shows Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ The State Department in Washington. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) US-China-Hanwha sanctions

(LEAD) U.S. calls China's Hanwha sanctions attempt to undermine Korea-U.S. cooperation, vows to stand 'firmly' with Korea

(ATTN: RECASTS 2nd para; ADDS photo, more info in paras 5-7)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- A State Department spokesperson on Thursday criticized China's recent sanctions against five U.S.-linked subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean as an "irresponsible" attempt to hurt shipbuilding cooperation between Korea and the United States, vowing to stand "firmly" with the Asian ally.

The spokesperson made the remarks in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency, days after Beijing announced the sanctions on the subsidiaries of the Korean firm, seen as a key entity in Seoul's efforts to help the United States rebuild its shipbuilding industry.

"China's targeting of Hanwha is an irresponsible attempt to interfere with a private company's operations and undermine U.S.-ROK cooperation on revitalizing American shipbuilding and manufacturing," the spokesperson said. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

"China's actions only reaffirm the importance of enhancing U.S. economic cooperation with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and are the latest example in a long pattern of China's attempts to coerce Korea. We stand firmly with the Republic of Korea."

China's commerce ministry unveiled the sanctions on Tuesday, barring Chinese businesses from engaging in dealings with the five subsidiaries -- Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc., Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Shipping Holdings LLC and HS USA Holdings Corp.

Hanwha has been at the forefront of efforts by Seoul and Washington to deepen shipbuilding cooperation as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration seeks to revitalize America's shipbuilding industry at a time when China is believed to have more than 230 times the shipbuilding capacity of the U.S.

Seoul has proposed the "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" project, which contributed to reaching a trade deal with Washington in late July.

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