BEIJING (AP) — China imposed sanctions Wednesday on 12 U.S. companies and 10 defense-related executives over arms sales to Taiwan in retaliation for earlier U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies linked to Russia.
The companies included units of Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, General Dynamics and other companies. Senior executives at Northrop Grumman Corporation and General Dynamics were also targeted.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the measures came after the United States “indiscriminately imposed illegal unilateral sanctions on various Chinese entities citing alleged Russia-related factors” and the United States “continued to sell weapons to the Chinese region of Taiwan.” .
China claims the self-governed island as its own territory, which it would annex by force if necessary. He has long opposed any US arms sales to the island. Although the United States does not recognize Taiwan as a country, Washington is required by federal law to ensure that the island’s government has the means to defend itself.
Following the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, on Monday, China announced sanctions against Boeing Defense, Space and Security and two other US defense companies for arms sales to Taiwan, and against Mike Gallagher, former representative Republican from Wisconsin who has shown his support for the island.
The latest round of sanctions, imposed under China’s Foreign Sanctions Law, will freeze all assets of companies inside China and deny individuals and their immediate family members visas to enter the country, including Hong Kong. and Macau. 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 these types of sanctions tend to be largely symbolic in nature.
The measures are in addition to those announced last year, which prohibited Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Technologies Corp.’s 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 individuals linked to Russia’s weapons development program, including more than a dozen Chinese entities accused of helping Moscow circumvent previous sanctions.
