China denounces US arms sales to Taiwan, sanctions Lockheed Martin
4 Min Read
Beijing has expressed strong opposition to recent arms sales by the United States to Taiwan, accusing Washington of violating the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques.
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Taiwan’s F-16 fighter jets fly in close formation over the president’s office during National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei, Taiwan, October 10, 2021. (AP)
China imposed countermeasures on Lockheed Martin's relevant entities and senior executives on Friday over the United States arms sales to Taiwan, a Foreign Ministry statement showed, as reported by Reuters.
As per the decision, China will freeze movable, immovable, and other kinds of property of Lockheed Martin's senior executives, including its chairman James Donald Taiclet, and will bar them from entering the country.
This is not a first as China has applied sanctions on US companies before, Lockheed included, for selling arms to democratically governed Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.
Earlier, Beijing strongly opposed the United States' recent arms sales to Taiwan, criticizing Washington for aiding what it perceives as the Democratic Progressive Party's efforts to promote "independence" through military strengthening, which Beijing believes will backfire.
The remarks came after the US State Department approved the sale of drones and missiles to Taiwan worth approximately $360 million on Tuesday, following a decision just two weeks prior to selling $80 million in F-16 fighter jet spare parts to the island.
At a regular news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized that the US arms sales to Taiwan violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, particularly the August 17 Communique of 1982, despite China's objections.
He emphasized that these sales severely undermine China's sovereignty and security interests, damage China-US relations, destabilize peace across the Taiwan Strait, and send a troubling message to proponents of "Taiwan independence."
"China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the US' frequent arms sales to Taiwan, which embolden the DPP authorities as they stick to the 'Taiwan independence' position and make deliberate provocations on the one-China principle," Lin stressed.
Lin stated that the sales underscore once more that the primary threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and the greatest disruptor of the current situation there stems from efforts promoting "Taiwan independence". He also highlighted the role of external forces led by the US in fostering and backing such separatist actions.
He further emphasized that the Taiwan issue is central to China's core interests and represents a non-negotiable red line in China-US relations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned against underestimating China's resolute determination and capability to counteract "Taiwan independence" efforts and protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Militarizing Taiwan
Just two weeks ago, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency confirmed that the State Department sold F-16 fighter jet spare and repair parts to Taiwan for an estimated $80 million.
The DSCA argued in a statement that this would "improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region."
On its end, Taiwan's Defense Ministry claimed this would boost the combat and defense needs of its air force, adding that the sale will be complete next month in July.
"With normalized gray-zone harassments, the Chinese Communist Party attempted to squeeze our naval and air training space and response time, as well as limiting our rights of self-defense," it said in a statement.
This comes as Taiwan's defense minister announced on June 19 that they have a "grasp" of the situation following the appearance of online images showing a Chinese nuclear submarine surfacing in the Taiwan Strait near Taiwanese fishermen.
The narrow strait separating Taiwan from China is a frequent source of friction. Taiwan reports daily drills of Chinese warplanes and warships in the area, as Beijing continues asserting its sovereignty over the island, which is being increasingly militarized by Washington.
