Beijing on Friday imposed sanctions against 20 US defence firms and their executives in response to Washington’s massive arms sales package to Taiwan last week.
The deal, if approved by the US Congress, would mark the largest-ever American weapons package to Taiwan, valued at US$11.1 billion. It includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones.
Beijing’s foreign ministry said the package “seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, interferes in China’s internal affairs, and undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
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The sanctioned companies are Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, L3Harris Maritime Services, Boeing in St Louis, 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.
Their movable and immovable property and other assets within China shall be frozen, and all organisations and individuals within China are prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation and other activities with them.
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Beijing also sanctioned 10 senior executives of the companies for their roles in the arms sales. They will be denied visas and barred from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau.