Beijing sanctions 7 companies in response to latest US support of Taiwan

The Chinese government imposed sanctions on seven companies on Friday in response to US military sales and other forms of support for Taiwan, some of which were signed into law this week by US President Joe Biden.

Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified the companies as Insitu, Hudson Technologies, Saronic Technologies, Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm and Oceaneering International Inc. “Relevant senior executives” of the firms were also sanctioned, although none was named.

The massive US$895 billion National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), annual legislation that funds and directs policy for the US military and security agencies for the coming financial year, included numerous measures intended to bolster military support for Taiwan.

Some of these provisions call for more direct aid to the self-governing island’s military and security forces, including US$3o0 million earmarked for “intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities”; “manned and unmanned aerial capabilities”; “integrated air and missile defence systems” and other systems.

Other measures in the NDAA authorise more coordination with allies and other countries on supporting Taiwan’s defence capability. This includes a requirement for the State and Defence Departments to study the feasibility of enrolling Japan in Aukus, the security alliance of US, Britain and Australia.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on Washington to “immediately stop arming Taiwan in any form, view China’s development and China-US relationship objectively and rationally, not to implement these negative articles concerning China and stop wrong words and deeds that harm China’s interests”.