Beijing announced sanctions on nine U.S. defense companies on Wednesday in retaliation for Washington’s approval this week of military equipment sales to Taiwan. China (“the People’s Republic of China”) believes that the island of Taiwan (administered by “the Republic of China”) is one of its provinces, which it has yet to reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Beijing is up in arms against any action perceived as undermining its claims to the island or likely to give the island territory diplomatic or military legitimacy.
US arms sales constitute “a serious violation” Washington’s commitments to Beijing, Lin Jian, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, said at a regular news conference on Wednesday. “They seriously violate China’s sovereignty and security interests and harm China-US relations.”Mr. Lin lamented, according to whom Beijing has “officially protested” to Washington to mark its “firm opposition”. “China has taken firm retaliatory measures and announced that it will impose sanctions on nine companies in the US military-industrial complex.”the spokesman said.
The companies, including aircraft manufacturer Sierra Nevada Corporation, will have their assets in China frozen and all transactions with individuals and entities based in China will be banned, according to a statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry. Washington has recognized Beijing over Taipei since 1979. But the United States remains the island’s most powerful ally and its main arms supplier. U.S.-Taiwan relations are now the main point of friction between China and the United States.
