China sanctions 20 US firms over Taiwan arms deal

KABUL (Pajhwok): China has imposed sanctions on a group of US defence firms and senior executives in response to weapons sales to Taiwan, a media report said on Saturday.

Al Jazeera reported that China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the measures on Friday, targeting 20 US defence companies and 10 individuals.

The sanctions are retaliation for the US’s newly announced $11.1 billion weapons package for Taiwan, one of the largest such deals ever for the territory.

“Any provocative actions that cross the line on the Taiwan issue will be met with a strong response from China,” the ministry said in a statement, urging the US to halt “dangerous” efforts to arm the island.

The companies targeted include Boeing’s St Louis branch, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, L3Harris Maritime Services, and Lazarus AI.

The measures freeze these companies’ assets in China and bar domestic organisations and individuals from engaging with them. They also seize China-held assets of sanctioned individuals and prohibit them from entering the country.

Targeted individuals include the founder of defence firm Anduril Industries and nine senior executives from the sanctioned companies. The measures take effect on 26 December.

The latest US weapons deal with Taiwan, announced by President Donald Trump on 17 December, includes the proposed sale of 82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), valued at over $4 billion.

The deal also includes 60 self-propelled howitzer artillery systems and related equipment worth more than $4 billion, as well as drones valued at over $1 billion.

kk/sa