Beijing sanctions US defence firms over Taiwan arms sales, warns…

China announced on Friday that it has taken strong countermeasures against several US defense companies and senior executives in response to Washington’s decision to approve large-scale arms sales to Taiwan, the Global Times reported.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would impose sanctions on 20 US defense companies and 10 senior executives who played a role in supplying arms to Taiwan in recent years. The action was taken under China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Act and will take effect immediately.

Companies targeted, according to the department, include Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, L3Harris Maritime Services, St. Louis-based Boeing, Gibbs & Cox, Advanced Acoustic Concepts, VSE Corporation, Sierra Technical Services, Red Cat Holdings, Teal Drones, ReconCraft, High Point Aerotechnologies, Epirus, Dedrone Holdings, Area-I, Blue Force Technologies, Dive Technologies, Vantor, Intelligent Epitaxy Technology, Rhombus Power and Lazarus Enterprises.

Within the scope of the sanctions, all movable and immovable assets of these companies in China will be frozen. Chinese organizations and individuals will also be prohibited from doing business, collaborating or having any other relationship with the listed entities.

The measures also cover 10 senior executives, including Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey and top executives from companies such as L3Harris, VSE Corporation and others. According to the ministry, their presence in China will be restricted and they will face restrictions on China-related activities.

Beijing said US arms sales to Taiwan “seriously violate the One-China principle and the three China-US Joint Declarations, interfere with China’s internal affairs, and harm China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” According to the Global Times, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that this move harmed China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

A ministry spokesman said the Taiwan issue is at the center of China’s national interests and is a red line in China-US relations.

The spokesman said, “Anyone who attempts to cross the line and make provocations on the Taiwan issue will be met with a harsh reaction from China. Any company or person who sells arms to Taiwan will pay the price for this mistake. No country or power will ever underestimate the determination, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” he said.

China also called on the United States to honor its commitments, stop supplying arms to Taiwan and avoid actions that could escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing warned that it would continue to take “decisive measures” to protect its sovereignty and security.

The reaction comes after US President Donald Trump’s administration approved a major arms package for Taiwan last week. The proposed sales are worth more than $10 billion and include medium-range missiles, howitzers and unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the U.S. State Department.

It was stated that the estimated total cost of the eight weapons package, including Focus Taiwan, HIMARS rocket systems, anti-tank missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, to Taiwan will be 11.1 billion US dollars.

Five of the eight weapons packages, M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS rocket systems, TOW 2B anti-tank missiles, anti-armor drones and FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles, are included in the NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.85 billion) special defense budget announced by the Taiwanese government last month, pending review by lawmakers, the Taiwanese news outlet reported, citing the country’s Ministry of Defense.

China has repeatedly opposed US arms sales to Taiwan and warned that such moves threaten regional peace and stability.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from ANI)