China announced to impose sanctions against US firms selling arms to Taiwan

US Firms including Lockheed Martin  will be sanctioned

US continue to arm Taiwan with modern weaponry to strengthen its defenses against China. In retaliation China has announced to impose sanctions against US firms supplying arms to Taiwan. This was announced by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian today.

 In response to the latest round of US arms sales to Taiwan, China will impose sanctions on U.S. entities participating in Washington’s arms sales to Taiwan.
According to the foreign ministry spokesman, China will impose sanctions on Lockheed Martin, a Boeing division and other US firms involved in arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governed island that Beijing consider its part under One China policy.

The two US giants were involved in a recent sale of $1 billion worth of missiles to Taiwan, alongside Raytheon. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged the US "to stop arms sales" to the island. The status of Taiwan holds the potential for conflict between the United States and China, in a wider struggle for technology, security and trade supremacy.

The US State Department said last week it had approved the sale of 135 air-to-ground missiles in a move Taiwan's defence ministry said would build its combat capabilities. Also approved was the sale of six MS-110 air reconnaissance pods and 11 M142 mobile light rocket launchers, taking the value of the three arms packages to $1.8 billion.

The United States, like most countries, has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but Washington is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait escalated in recent months after the Trump administration stepped up its engagement with local authorities in Taiwan. Beijing has always called Taiwan "an inseparable part of its territory" and asked other countries to adhere to the "One China" policy.

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