Monday, February 21, the Chinese Government announced that it will take “countermeasures… in accordance with China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law” against Raytheon Technologies Corporation and Lockheed Martin Corporation.
The two companies were sanctioned over a the approval of a $100M weapons sale to Taiwan, to upgrade the country’s Patriot PAC-3 surface-to-air missile systems. The deal was approved by the U.S. Department of State and involves servicing the anti-aircraft system in use.
Put into effect by the highest legislative organ, China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law assigns government organs such as Ministries and State Councils to take countermeasures against U.S. and E.U. sanctions. The proposal to vote in the Chinese anti-sanctions into legislations of the autonomous systems of Hong Kong and Macau had stirred reaction back in August 2021.
“One-China Rule”
In line with its “One China” policy, China regard Taiwan as a rebellious breakaway region and has never renounced its right to use military force against the island.
“The US arms sales to the Taiwan region of China seriously violate the one-China principle… gravely undermine China’s sovereignty and security interests, and severely harm China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” said China’s foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a press conference.
Image by: artur voznenko, unsplash
