China announced this Thursday sanctions against two American companies in the defense sector for his “participation in arms sales to Taiwan.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported in a statement the adoption of “countermeasures” against General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems for “participating in the sale of weapons to Taiwan,” something that, according to the ministry, “seriously violates the principle of 'one China'”.
According to China, US sales “seriously damage the sovereignty” of the Asian country and represent “interference in their internal affairs.”
Thus, all movable and immovable property and other types of assets that these companies possess within China will be frozen and their senior managers will be denied entry into the country.
Beijing protests US arms sales on Taiwan
Taiwan -where the Chinese nationalist army withdrew after the defeat at the hands of communist troops in the civil war (1927-1949) – has been governed autonomously since the end of the war, although China claims sovereignty over the island, which it considers a rebel province for whose “reunification” has not ruled out the use of force.
The Taiwanese issue is one of the main points of friction between Beijing and Washington, since the US is Taipei's main arms supplier and could defend the island in the event of conflict.
Beijing has repeatedly protested by US arms sales to the island, accusing Taipei of “seeking independence, relying on the US.” and turning the territory into an “arsenal” and an “explosive island.”
In January of this year, China already announced sanctions against five American companies in the defense sector for the sale of weapons from the North American country to Taiwan.
