China Imposes Sanctions on US Defense Companies Over Taiwan Arms Sales
China has imposed sanctions on nine US defense firms over their involvement in selling military equipment to Taiwan, Al Jazeera reports.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the measures on Wednesday, citing “serious violations” of the “One-China” principle and damage to China-US relations.
The sanctions, effective immediately, include freezing the assets of the firms within Chinese territory and prohibiting all transactions with Chinese individuals or entities.
Spokesman Lin Jian stated that the US weapon sales to “China’s Taiwan region” had “infringed upon China’s sovereignty and security interests.” He declared that Beijing was taking “resolute countermeasures” against the companies.
The targeted firms are Sierra Nevada Corporation, Stick Rudder Enterprises, Cubic Corporation, S3 Aerospace, TCOM Ltd Partnership, TextOre, Planate Management Group, ACT1 Federal, and Exovera.
The sanctions come on the heels of the US State Department’s approval of a potential $228 million sale of spare parts to Taiwan’s military, which the island’s defense ministry described as essential to maintaining “combat readiness.”
Lin demanded that the US “stop conniving and supporting Taiwan independence, and stop undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has ramped up military and political pressure in recent years to assert its claims, which Taipei vehemently denies. The US, while maintaining a “One-China” policy, has remained Taiwan’s most important partner and arms supplier.
The sanctions are the latest flashpoint in the increasingly strained US-China relationship, which has seen tensions rise over issues ranging from trade and technology to China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea.
The White House, however, has maintained a cautiously optimistic stance, with national security advisor Jake Sullivan’s recent meeting with Chinese military official Zhang Youxia being seen as a potential step towards managing the relationship.
