China Sanctions 12 US Defense Companies in Response to Taiwan Arms Sales and More

China has imposed 'retaliatory' sanctions on 12 U.S. defense companies.

Wang Wenbin, Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 22nd, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted Notice No. 7 on its website, announcing sanctions including asset freezes and entry bans on 12 U.S. defense companies and 10 senior executives of these companies.

The sanctioned companies include Lockheed Martin Missiles, General Dynamics Information Technology, Intercostal Electronics, Systems Studies and Simulation, Iron Mountain Solutions, among others, totaling 12 companies. The Chinese government has frozen their movable and immovable property and other tangible assets within China.

Additionally, China imposed entry bans on China, Hong Kong, and Macau on 10 senior executives, including Casey Warden, Chairman of defense contractor Northrop Grumman, as well as presidents and vice presidents of General Dynamics.

This move is interpreted as a countermeasure against U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies related to arms sales to Taiwan and the Ukraine war. The rationale is that these actions seriously violate the 'One China' principle and the three major joint communiques between the U.S. and China (including the establishment of diplomatic relations), as well as constitute interference in China's internal affairs and serious damage to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The United States has long ignored China's objective and fair stance and constructive role regarding the Ukraine crisis, imposed illegal and unilateral sanctions on many Chinese companies based on so-called Russia-related factors, and engaged in unilateral harassment," adding, "The United States continues to sell weapons to China's Taiwan region."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.