Probes not targeting foreign brands

Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyang said it is groundless to imply that China's recent investigation into the healthcare industry, including probes into GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi and Eli Lilly, have targeted foreign brands.

All three drugmakers were visited from Chinese regulators as they step up its supervision of the industry. Johnson & Johnson, the world's biggest maker of healthcare products, recently received a fined by Chinese authorities on claims it employed monopolistic practices.

Shen said these probes will strengthen "the investment confidence of transnational companies in China".

Each company in China, no matter foreign or domestic, will be punished for breaching Chinese laws, Shen said. He said the investigations showed China's efforts to create a level-playing field for investors from all countries.