China sanctions 10 US defence firms over arms sales to Taiwan

On January 2, China imposed sanctions on 10 US defence companies due to their arms sales to Taiwan, marking the second such action in less than a week.

Subsidiaries of major defence firms such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Raytheon, which were involved in selling weapons to Taiwan, were added to China's "Unreliable Entities List," the Ministry of Commerce said, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

As part of the sanctions, these companies will be barred from engaging in import and export activities, as well as making new investments in China. Additionally, senior executives of these firms will be prohibited from entering the country. This move follows China's recent sanctions against seven US military-industrial companies, including the Boeing subsidiary Insitu, also in response to US military support for Taiwan. Taiwan, which governs itself independently, remains a major point of dispute between Beijing and Washington.

China asserts that Taiwan is part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that it will not rule out using force to assert control over the island. While Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically, it remains the island's key strategic partner and its primary arms supplier. In December, US President Joe Biden approved $571.3 million in defence assistance to Taiwan. A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry stated during a regular press briefing that such actions "interfere with China's internal affairs and undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity." 

In recent years, China has escalated its pressure on Taiwan, conducting three major military exercises since President Lai Ching-te took office in May. China's commerce ministry added 28 US entities, mostly defence companies, to its Export Control List, prohibiting the export of dual-use items to these firms. The ministry stated that General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Boeing Defense, Space & Security were added to the list "to protect national security and interests, and to fulfill international obligations, including non-proliferation."

By Naila Huseynova