The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Taiwan: China sanctions two US companies for arms sales

2022-02-21T15:58:07.704Z


The United States has committed by law to provide Taiwan with means of self-defense. According to Beijing, the arms sale by two US companies is now undermining Chinese security interests.


Enlarge image

Taiwanese soldier simulating a Chinese attack

Photo: Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi / imago images/ZUMA Wire

China imposes sanctions on US defense companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies over arms sales to Taiwan.

This was stated by a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing on Monday, but without giving any details on the type of punitive measures.

The sanctions are against the two companies over $100 million in arms sales on February 7.

The deal seriously undermines China's security interests, China-US relations "as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," it said at a press conference.

Both companies have long been involved in US arms sales to "China's Taiwan region."

It is the first time US defense firms have faced sanctions under China's new anti-foreign sanctions law, enacted in 2021 in response to US sanctions against Chinese companies.

On at least two previous occasions - in 2019 and 2020 - China has announced sanctions against Lockheed and Raytheon.

However, the government in Beijing did not explain what these sanctions entail or how they were enforced.

The US does not sell arms to China, but is required by a 1979 law, the Taiwan Relations Act, to provide Taiwan with means of self-defense.

For China, Taiwan is considered part of the People's Republic

China regards Taiwan as part of the People's Republic and has increased military and diplomatic pressure on the island off mainland China over the past two years.

Its government always emphasizes that it wants peace, but will defend the island in the event of an attack.

China considers Taiwan to be the most important and sensitive issue in its relations with the US.

These are strained by conflicts over trade policy and human rights issues.

col/Reuters

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-02-21

You may like

Business 2024-03-24T18:04:30.890Z
News/Politics 2024-02-02T23:30:04.848Z

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-27T16:45:54.081Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.