Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed new sanctions targeting American aerospace/defense/military corporations Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, due to their arms sales to the country of Taiwan. A nation which the Chinese government has claimed as being a breakaway state, and part of their disputed territory, since as far back as 1949 at the end of the civil war in China, the war from 1928 at its start until its end claimed the lives of close to 10 million people, including civilians.
Ning said in her statement that Lockheed had specifically participated in an U.S arms sales on August 24th and that Grumman in addition had been involved in several deals. She added that China calls on the U.S to stop arming and colluding with Taiwan or it will be met with a “resolute response”.
This is not the first time China has levelled sanctions against U.S companies similarly dealing with Taiwan, however the effect of such sanctions is unclear and nebulous as the ministry did not provide specific details or measures of the sanctions put in place.
Previously China has targeted Lockheed and subsidiaries of Raytheon Technologies, another U.S military corporation, with sanctions that affected non-civilian/comme departments of the companies and fined them an amount equal to twice of that of their contracts since September 2020. Although an exact fine amount was not stated by the Chinese government at the time and is unclear whether or not was paid by Lockheed and Raytheon back in February of 2023 when those sanctions were announced.
The confirmation of the sanctions came during the press conference when Ning was answering press questions:
“China Daily: Lately the US has provided advanced weaponry to China’s Taiwan region through arms sales, military assistance and loans. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson said earlier that China would take strong measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. I wonder if you have anything new on that?
Mao Ning: In disregard of China’s firm opposition, the US government deliberately supplies weapons to China’s Taiwan region. This seriously violates the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiqués, contravenes international law and basic norms governing international relations, and undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests. The US is going further down the wrong and dangerous path of arming Taiwan.
Lockheed Martin Corporation, St. Louis, MO directly participated in the US arms sale to Taiwan announced on August 24 as the principal contractor. Northrop Grumman participated in several US arms sales to Taiwan. In accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People’s Republic of China, China decides to impose sanctions on these two above-mentioned US defense corporations.
Let me stress, the Chinese government never wavers in its resolve of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We call on the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiqués, stop arms sales to Taiwan, stop military collusion with Taiwan, and stop arming Taiwan, otherwise it will be met with China’s resolute response.” –Chinese Foreign Ministry
