BEIJING: China imposed sanctions on 10 US defense companies on Thursday over arms sales to Taiwan, the second round of measures against US companies over the issue in less than a week.
Subsidiaries of Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Raytheon “involved in arms sales to Taiwan” have been added to China’s “Untrustworthy Entity List,” the country’s commerce ministry announced Thursday.
Import and export activities or making new investments in China will be banned, and their senior officials will be banned from entering the country, the ministry said.
Last Friday, China announced sanctions against seven US military and industrial companies, including Boeing subsidiary Insitu, also over US military aid to Taiwan.
The self-governing island is a key point of contention between Beijing and Washington.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it will not renounce the use of force to bring it under its control.
Washington does not diplomatically recognize the democratic island, but it is its strategic ally and largest arms supplier.
In December, US President Joe Biden agreed to provide $571.3 million in defense support to Taiwan.
The actions “interfere in China’s internal affairs and undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said at a regular press conference last Friday.
China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan in recent years and has held three rounds of major military exercises since President Lai Ching-te took power in May.
On Thursday, China’s commerce ministry also added 28 US entities, mostly defense companies, to the Export Control List, banning the export of dual-use items to them.
General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Boeing Defense, Space & Security were among those added “to protect national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation,” the ministry said.
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