China announces sanctions on US companies selling arms to Taiwan

In a written statement, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would impose sanctions on the US companies General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems.

Under the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, the reason for the sanctions was stated as the arms sales to the Taiwan region violating the "one China" principle and contradicting the Three Joint Communiqués that form the basis of diplomatic relations with the US. 

MOVABLE AND IMMOVABLE ASSETS FROZEN

Within the scope of the sanctions, the movable and immovable assets of the companies in question within China have been frozen, and their senior executives have been banned from entering China.

The sanction decision came after US President Joe Biden approved an additional 75 million dollars in arms sales to Taiwan in February.

ABRAMS TANKS AND MILITARY DRONES

General Dynamics Land Systems is involved in the joint production of American-made Abrams tanks with Taiwan.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, which produces unmanned aerial vehicle models such as the Predator and Reaper, sells "MQ-9B" type military drones called "SkyGuardian" to the Taiwanese military through the US military.

Following Washington's approval in August 2023 for the sale of 500 million dollars worth of F-16 infrared search and track systems and related equipment to Taiwan, the Beijing administration had announced that it would impose sanctions on Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, the US defense industry companies that supply this equipment.

SANCTIONS ON 5 AMERICAN DEFENSE INDUSTRY COMPANIES

After the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in December 2023 that 300 million dollars worth of sustainment and equipment support would be provided to maintain Taiwan's Command, Control, Communications and Computer (C4) capabilities, a decision was made to impose sanctions on 5 American defense industry companies that provided this equipment: BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat, and Data Link Solutions.

Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory, has had de facto independence since 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded. The separation that emerged after the civil war between mainland China and Taiwan still continues.

Beijing opposes arms sales to Taiwan by countries that recognize it by adopting the "one China" principle.