Editor-DN
Washington:
China has stepped up its retaliation against the US by stepping up its sanctions on US defense firms. In less than a week, Beijing today announced a second round of sanctions against ten US companies. Reason – arms sales to Taiwan.
In addition, China has imposed, in total, 45 US entities – 17 firms and 28 institutions – of varying degrees of punishment. While 17 firms have been sanctioned, 28 others have been fined by adding them to the export ban list.
Among those approved today are the largest global defense manufacturers – subsidiaries of Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and General Dynamics.
In a statement released by China’s Ministry of Commerce, all ten US firms were added to Beijing’s “list of untrustworthy entities” for “participating in arms sales to Taiwan”. It added that these companies will henceforth be “banned from all import and export activities” in the country. Nor will they be allowed to invest in China.
The Chinese government said its senior management had also been banned from entering the country. The latest action against US corporations comes just six days after seven other companies were similarly sanctioned. Among them was Institute, a subsidiary of Boeing Defense.
Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China, is a flashpoint between Beijing and Washington. Beijing claims the entire island as part of China. Taiwan considers itself an independent nation. While China is a communist country, Taiwan is a democracy.
China has not ruled out the use of force to take over the country. Even in his New Year’s address to the nation, Chinese President Xi Jinping threatened Taiwan and warned that anyone who tries to stop him will.
China has also conducted three rounds of major military exercises since President Lai Ching-tae came to power following Taiwan’s democratic elections in May.
Also Read: Xi Jinping’s Threat and Brief History of China and Taiwan
For Washington, Taiwan is a strategic ally in Asia and the US is also the largest supplier of arms to Taipei. Defending democracy over communism has also been a principled decision of the US – the Cold War with Russia was based entirely on this principled stance.
Expressing his commitment to Taiwan’s defense, US President Joe Biden approved $571 million in defense aid for Taiwan less than a month ago.
While both China and Taiwan claim sovereignty over the island, Beijing has said that “such actions (by US firms) interfere in China’s internal affairs, and harm China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” are”.
In addition to the sanctions, China has also fined 28 US entities, mostly defense companies, by adding them to its export control list, permanently banning them from exporting dual-use items. .
General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin Corp., and Boeing Defense, Space and Security were among those involved “to meet international obligations such as non-proliferation and protection of national security and interests,” the ministry said.
(Input from AFP)
