China sanctions five US firms over Taiwan arms sales

Due to their participation in arms sales to Taiwan, which is a self-governing state that Beijing says is part of its territory, five US defence companies were subject to penalties, which China announced on Sunday.

While the US Congress demands that arms be sent to the self-governing democracy for its protection, China has pledged to one day annex Taiwan.

Beijing said it will take “countermeasures” against the businesses involved in the $300 million weaponry deal that the US State Department authorised last month in an effort to bolster Taipei’s joint combat command and control system.

These businesses include BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat, and Data Link Solutions, according to a statement released by China’s foreign ministry on Sunday.

“The countermeasures consist of freezing the properties of those companies in China, including their movable and immovable property, and prohibiting organizations and individuals in China from transactions and cooperation with them,” the ministry said.

“The US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region… seriously harm China’s sovereignty and security interests,” it added.

Beijing has ratcheted up pressure on Taiwan since independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen took power there in 2016.

It regularly sends warplanes and vessels near the island, where the defence ministry recently also reported several sightings of balloons from the mainland.

Both Washington and Taipei have warned Beijing against seeking to influence the presidential elections being held in Taiwan this month.