Beijing sanctions 2 more US defence firms over arms sales to Taiwan, violation of ‘one-China principle’

Beijing on Thursday announced fresh sanctions against two American defence industry firms over selling arms to Taiwan, accusing Washington of continuing to “undermine its sovereignty”.

China’s foreign ministry said it would freeze mainland assets held by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, a manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems, and General Dynamics Land Systems, which specialises in the design and production of tracked and wheeled military equipment.

The senior management of the two firms will also be barred from entering the country.

China sanctions US defence companies over Taiwan arms deal

“The continued US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region seriously violate the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, interfere in China’s internal affairs, and undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry said in a brief statement.

Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory, to be reunited by force if necessary. The US, like most countries, does not recognise the self-governed island as independent but is opposed to any forcible change to the status quo and committed to arming it.

Thursday’s development comes months after China sanctioned five US defence-related firms, also over arms sales to Taiwan. The companies are BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat and Data Link Solutions.

Taiwan has long been a bone of contention between Washington and Beijing, which has repeatedly labelled US arms sales to the island as an interference in its domestic affairs.

Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China’s position during a call with his American counterpart Joe Biden, emphasising that Taiwan was “the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations”.

He urged Biden to translate the US commitment of not supporting Taiwan independence into “concrete actions”.

02:17

Beijing criticises South Korea for inviting Taiwan to democracy summit

In a move slammed by Beijing, the Biden administration last month proposed a US$100 million budget to help Taiwan strengthen deterrence and maintain stability across the Taiwan Strait, the first time the White House had made such a specific request.

The US Defence Department, in a separate request, sought US$500 million under the US Pacific Deterrence Initiative to replenish weapons that would help Taiwan “address aggression in the region”, according to budget documents.

In response, China’s foreign ministry said it “strongly opposed” Washington’s efforts to arm Taiwan, and that Beijing would take “resolute measures to firmly safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

South China Morning Post