In response to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman US arms manufacturing company providing weapons to Chinese Taipei, China has announced sanctions against both companies.
The US government is determined to give Taiwan weapons despite China’s staunch opposition.
At a routine press conference on Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning warned that arming Taiwan is endangering China’s sovereignty and security interests and leading the country down a dangerous and wrong path.
The Chinese official claimed that Northrop Grumman had participated in the sale of weapons to Taipei “many times” and that Lockheed Martin had served as the principal contractor in the August 24 US arms sales to Taiwan.
Ning stated, “China has decided to impose sanctions on the aforementioned two US military companies in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the PRC [People’s Republic of China].
Up until recently, the United States had sold Taipei military hardware worth $19 billion. Still, the majority of that has not yet been delivered because the two parties could not agree on the terms of payment.
US Congressman Rob Wittman, who was leading a congressional delegation to Chinese Taipei earlier this month, said, “We have an obligation to make sure that we fill the backlog of foreign military sales that exist now between our countries.”
The US congressional delegation met with the leaders of the rebellious island during their visit.
Beijing viewed the action as Washington’s most recent provocation in a long line of US provocations, angering China.
Taiwan is a self-governing island, and President Tsai Ing-wen has been working to make the military there more adaptable and difficult to attack, hoping to transform Taiwan into what US officials have dubbed a “porcupine.”
In keeping with the widely acknowledged “one China” principle, China recognizes Taipei as a sovereign state within its borders.
Chinese fighter jets and navy ships have been conducting military drills all around the island, occasionally getting close enough to encircle it, in response to US provocations in recent years.
Taipei’s reunification has been advocated for peace on numerous occasions, but Beijing has warned that if necessary, it is prepared to use force.
