Chinese government imposes sanctions against Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, over military sales to Taiwan.

The Chinese government adds Lockheed Martin Corporation and Raytheon Technologies into its sanctions list under the Chinese anti-foreign sanctions law, over an arms deal to upgrade Taiwan's Patriot missile systems.

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