China sanctions 30 US firms, individuals over Taiwan weapons sales

In response to Washington’s latest inaction against Taiwan, which Beijing claims to be its own, China has sanctioned a group of American defense companies and senior executives over sales of weapons to Taiwan.

The measures, which are targeted at 20 US defense companies and 10 individuals, were announced by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday. The sanctions, according to the statement, are in response to the US’s largest ever weapons deal for Taiwan, which was announced in January 2001.

The ministry’s statement, which calls for the US to stop “dangerous” efforts to arm the island, states that “any provocative actions that cross the line on the Taiwan issue will be met with a strong response from China.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, L3Harris Maritime Services, Lazarus AI, and Boeing’s St. Louis branch are among the companies that have been sanctioned.

According to the ministry, the measures prevent domestic organizations from working with these companies and freeze their assets in China. Additionally, they enlist sanctioned individuals’ assets in China and forbid them from entering.

The founder of the defense company Anduril Industries and nine senior executives from the sanctioned companies are among the targets. On December 26, the measures become effective.

The US must provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself if Beijing rejects Beijing’s claim to the area. However, tensions between China and the US have increased since selling arms to the island.

President Donald Trump announced the most recent US weapons deal with Taiwan on December 17 that would include the proposed sale of 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and 82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) for more than $4 billion.

Similar defense mechanisms were provided by the US to Ukraine to protect against Russian aerial attacks.

Additionally included in the deal are drones worth more than $ 1 billion as well as 60 self-propelled howitzer artillery systems and related equipment worth more than $ 4 billion.