China's Ministry of Commerce on Thursday urged the United States to immediately halt its practice of adding Chinese companies to its so-called list of companies linked to the Chinese military, saying that China has to take countermeasures.

The US move has severely harmed the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, making it necessary for China to respond, ministry spokesperson He Yadong said at a regular press conference.

In order to safeguard China's national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation, two Chinese departments on June 22 announced measures to add 10 US entities, including Aveox, Inc., to the export control list as well as measures to prohibit the purchase of products manufactured by 46 designated US companies in government procurement, He said.

Noting that the targeted US companies are all military-related, He urged the US side to work with China to maintain and develop a constructive bilateral relationship of strategic stability.