China has sanctioned numerous US-based arms manufacturing companies and senior executives after Washington had approved $11-billion-worth of arms sales to Taiwan on December 18.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the measure late on Friday, with a statement from the ministry saying the sanctions target 20 military-related firms and 10 senior executives.
It said the sanctions include freezing their assets in China and restricting them from conducting usual business with other organisations and individuals in the country.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned that “the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations”.
The companies added to the list include Boeing (St. Louis operations), Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, and L3Harris Maritime Services.
Also Read: China accuses US of fuelling row with Taiwan
The Trump administration, on December 18, had approved the biggest arms sales package to the semi-independent island nation, which included a tranche of the latest weapons including high-mobility artillery rocket systems, known as HIMARS and ATACMS.
Hours after the announcement, US State Department officials “strongly objected to Beijing’s efforts to retaliate against US companies”.
One of the spokespersons at the department said that the US has always maintained consistency across nine different US administrations on the Taiwan issue and also “contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.
The official added that Washington has urged Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue.
It is pertinent to mention that the Chinese foreign ministry on Friday had accused the US administration of fuelling tensions in the Taiwan Strait by sending sophisticated weapons to Taiwan.
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