Abstract This Article examines the evolving stance of Russia and China on the use of sanctions, highlighting a notable shift from their traditional opposition to unilateral coercive measures toward increasingly employing such tools themselves. While both countries have consistently criticized sanctions not endorsed by the UN Security Council, recent practices reveal a growing reliance on national legal frameworks to impose retaliatory and strategic sanctions. China, for instance, has introduced targeted measures against foreign officials and companies, particularly in response to perceived threats to its sovereignty, such as arms sales to Taiwan. Russia, in turn, has enacted counter-sanctions against Western states through export bans and travel restrictions. The Article explores this duality and analyzes its implications for international law, contending that the gap between rhetoric and practice may signal a reconfiguration of the normative landscape surrounding unilateral sanctions.
Daniele Musmeci (Wed,) studied this question.