China Sanctions 5 US Defense Companies In Response To US Sanctions And Arms Sales To Taiwan

BEIJING, China: China sanctioned five American military companies on Sunday in reaction to US arms sales to Taiwan and US penalties against Chinese companies and persons.

According to a statement made public online by the Foreign Ministry, the penalties would freeze any property the companies may have in China and prevent Chinese businesses and individuals from working with them.

The impact of the penalties on the companies, BAE Systems Land and Armaments, Alliant Techsystems Operations, AeroVironment, Viasat, and Data Link Solutions remained uncertain. Because American defense contractors rarely sell to China, such sanctions are frequently merely symbolic.

The US actions, according to the Foreign Ministry, hurt their sovereignty and security interests, weakened peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and violated the rights and interests of Chinese firms and individuals

China sanctions 5 US defense companies in response to US sanctions and arms sales to Taiwan

“The Chinese government remains unwavering in our resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens,” according to a statement from the ministry.

The statement came less than a week before Taiwan’s presidential election, which is being fought over how the government should handle its relationship with the country which claims the self-governing island as its territory and insists it must be ruled by it.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not specify which arms deal or US sanctions they were responding to, though spokesperson Wang Wenbin had warned three weeks ago that China would take countermeasures in response to the US government’s approval of a $300 million military package for Taiwan in December.

China sanctions 5 US defense companies in response to US sanctions and arms sales to Taiwan

The agreement covers equipment, training, and repair to keep Taiwan’s command, control, and military communications systems operational.

The United States stated that the sale would help Taiwan’s armed forces modernize and maintain a credible defense. “The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing operational readiness,” according to a Pentagon news release.

Taiwan is a major flashpoint in US-China relations, which many fear could spark a military clash between the two countries. China claims that US weaponry shipments to Taiwan constitute interference in its internal affairs.

China sanctions 5 US defense companies in response to US sanctions and arms sales to Taiwan

The Chinese military deploys fighter planes and ships into and over the waters around Taiwan regularly, in part to prevent the island’s administration from declaring official independence. Although an invasion does not appear imminent, the constant military activity is a reminder that the threat is always present.

The United States shifted diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, yet it is required by law to ensure that Taiwan can defend itself. America and its allies navigate warships through the Taiwan Strait, a 160-kilometer (100-mile) waterway separating the island from China.

SOURCE – (AP)