China has imposed sanctions on 12 U.S. defense companies and 10 executives in retaliation for earlier U.S. sanctions against Chinese companies with ties to Russia over arms sales to Taiwan.
BEIJING, China — China on Wednesday sanctioned 12 U.S. defense companies and 10 executives over arms sales to Taiwan, in retaliation for earlier U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies with ties to Russia.
The entities include companies such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Dynamics. Senior executives at Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics were also targeted.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the recent measures were due to the US “imposing indiscriminate and illegal unilateral sanctions on a large number of Chinese companies due to so-called Russia-related factors” and that the US had “imposed weapons against China’s Taiwan region.” This was done in response to the company’s continued sales.
China claims the self-governing island is its own territory and says it will annex it by force if necessary. The country has long opposed any U.S. arms sales to the island. Although the United States does not recognize Taiwan as a country, the U.S. government is obligated by federal law to ensure that Taiwan has the means to defend itself.
Following the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-toku, on Monday, China is targeting Boeing Defense, Space and Security, two other U.S. defense companies, and a former Republican congressman from Wisconsin over arms sales to Taiwan. Announcement of sanctions against Mike Gallagher. Support for the island.
The sanctions, imposed under China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, freeze all assets of Chinese companies and deny visas to Hong Kong and Macau for individuals and their immediate family members. Companies and individuals will also be prohibited from doing business with Chinese companies. It was not immediately clear what impact these measures would have, but such sanctions are often largely symbolic in nature.
The measures are in addition to measures announced last year that barred Lockheed Martin Co. and Raytheon Technologies’ Raytheon Missiles and Defense from importing goods to China or making new investments in the country.
On May 1, the United States imposed new sanctions on hundreds of companies and people linked to Russia’s weapons programs, including more than a dozen Chinese companies accused of helping Russia evade earlier sanctions.
