Beijing imposes sanctions on Lockheed and Raytheon over Taiwan arms sales
This is the first time the firms have faced sanctions under China’s new anti-foreign sanctions law drawn up last year
21 February 2022 - 19:17
byEduardo Baptista, Emily Chow and Ben Blanchard
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The logo of Lockheed Martin is seen at Euronaval, the world naval defence exhibition in Le Bourget near Paris, France. File photo: REUTERS/BENOIT TESSIER
Beijing — China has placed Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies under sanctions over arms sales to Taiwan, the government said on Monday, at least the third time it has announced punishments against the US companies.
The sanctions are countermeasures against the two companies over a $100m February 7 arms sale that “undermined China’s security interests, seriously undermined China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular news briefing.
Beijing views the self-ruled island of Taiwan as a breakaway province that must accept Chinese sovereignty and has never renounced the use of force to achieve that goal.
“In accordance with the relevant stipulations in China’s anti-foreign sanctions law, the Chinese government has decided to take countermeasures on the infringing acts of Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin,” Wang said.
“Both are military enterprises that have long participated in US arm sales to China’s Taiwan region.”
No further details were given on the nature of the sanctions.
This is the first time the companies have faced sanctions under China’s new anti-foreign sanctions law drawn up last year in response to US sanctions against Chinese companies.
On at least two previous occasions China has announced sanctions against Lockheed and Raytheon, in 2019 and 2020, though Beijing has not explained what those sanctions entailed or how they were enforced.
The US does not sell weapons to China.
However, the US is bound by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and US weapons sales always attract China’s anger.
China has over the past two years stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan, whose government says it wants peace but will defend the island if attacked.
China regularly says Taiwan is the most important and sensitive issue in its ties with Washington, which are also strained over trade and human rights disputes. Reuters
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Beijing imposes sanctions on Lockheed and Raytheon over Taiwan arms sales
This is the first time the firms have faced sanctions under China’s new anti-foreign sanctions law drawn up last year
Beijing — China has placed Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies under sanctions over arms sales to Taiwan, the government said on Monday, at least the third time it has announced punishments against the US companies.
The sanctions are countermeasures against the two companies over a $100m February 7 arms sale that “undermined China’s security interests, seriously undermined China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular news briefing.
Beijing views the self-ruled island of Taiwan as a breakaway province that must accept Chinese sovereignty and has never renounced the use of force to achieve that goal.
“In accordance with the relevant stipulations in China’s anti-foreign sanctions law, the Chinese government has decided to take countermeasures on the infringing acts of Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin,” Wang said.
“Both are military enterprises that have long participated in US arm sales to China’s Taiwan region.”
No further details were given on the nature of the sanctions.
This is the first time the companies have faced sanctions under China’s new anti-foreign sanctions law drawn up last year in response to US sanctions against Chinese companies.
On at least two previous occasions China has announced sanctions against Lockheed and Raytheon, in 2019 and 2020, though Beijing has not explained what those sanctions entailed or how they were enforced.
The US does not sell weapons to China.
However, the US is bound by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and US weapons sales always attract China’s anger.
China has over the past two years stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan, whose government says it wants peace but will defend the island if attacked.
China regularly says Taiwan is the most important and sensitive issue in its ties with Washington, which are also strained over trade and human rights disputes.
Reuters
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