China has imposed sanctions on a further 20 US weapons manufacturers and 10 senior executives, citing Washington’s latest arms sale to Taiwan as the trigger.
Beijing said the move expands an existing blacklist targeting the American defence industry and is intended to respond to actions it claims violate China’s sovereignty and the One-China policy.
The sanctions follow the approval by US President Donald Trump last week of an arms package worth about US$11.1 billion for Taiwan, the largest such deal to date.
Taiwan’s government said the package includes advanced rocket systems, artillery, anti-tank missiles, loitering drones and other military equipment. China’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of encouraging separatist sentiment on the island and further destabilising cross-strait relations.
Taiwan has been self-governed since Chinese nationalist forces retreated there after losing the civil war, but Beijing continues to claim the island as its territory. Although the United States formally recognised Beijing decades ago, it has remained Taiwan’s main arms supplier.
China says it prefers peaceful reunification but has repeatedly warned it would use force if Taiwan formally declares independence, while tensions have continued to rise amid growing US support for the island and broader disputes between Washington and Beijing.
Image credit: William Ducret
