taiwan 18 July 2024

China retaliates over fresh US arms sale to Taiwan

China’s foreign ministry has announced ‘countermeasures’ against six US defence companies and five executives, saying the sanctions were in response to ‘another arms sale’ to Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of the mainland.

The ministry’s 12 July notice said it was sanctioning Anduril Industries, Maritime Tactical Systems, Pacific Rim Defense, AEVEX Aerospace, LKD Aerospace and Summit Technologies Inc, while the newly-sanctioned senior executives are subject to an asset freeze and visa restrictions and individuals in China are prohibited from engaging in business activities with them.

In June, Washington approved a fresh weapons sale to Taiwan. In May, Beijing sanctioned 12 US defence companies and ten executives for arms sales to Taiwan and in response to Washington’s designations of Chinese firms over alleged links to the Russian military.

https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/202407/t20240712_11453053.html