Beijing Says it Will Impose Sanctions on Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon Over Arms Sales to Taiwan
October 26, 2020.- Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry vowed an appropriate and necessary response after the United States had approved arms sales to Taiwan worth about $1.8 billion.
The spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Minister, Zhao Lijian, stated on Monday that Beijing will impose sanctions on US entities participating in arms sales to Taiwan.
“We stand firmly opposed to and deplore such practice,” the spokesperson said.
Speaking further, the spokesman said that Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense and Raytheon will fall under the Chinese sanctions.
“We will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard our national sovereignty and security interests,” the spokesperson added.
Last week, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Pentagon’s office that oversees US military assistance to other nations, announced that the State Department had approved the sale of $1.008 billion worth of AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) and related equipment to the Republic of China, the official name of the government in Taipei, Taiwan.
Commenting on the US decision, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called on the United States to cancel the proposed arms deal, adding that China would make necessary responses in accordance with the development of the situation.
Beijing has always called Taiwan “an inseparable part of its territory” and asked other countries to adhere to the “One China” policy.
While Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent state entity, sticking rather to the “One China” policy, it has actually kept informal relations with the island, including arms supplies, after breaking off diplomatic relations with it in 1979.
