• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Asia Europe
  4. China sanctions Lockheed Martin, Raytheon over weapons sales to Taiwan
Asia

China sanctions Lockheed Martin, Raytheon over weapons sales to Taiwan

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Feb 15:44
  • 1 Shares

The laws forbid Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missile and Defense Corporation from "participating in import and export activities connected to China."

  • The American and Chinese flags flutter. (AFP)
    The American and Chinese flags (AFP)

China's Commerce Ministry on Thursday said it put Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX.N) onto an "unreliable enterprises list" over arms sales to Taiwan.

The laws forbid Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missile and Defense Corporation, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, from "participating in import and export activities connected to China," as per a statement from the Ministry.

China sanctioned the two companies in February of last year for a $100 million arms sale to Taiwan.

At the time, China's Foreign Ministry stated that the sale "undermined China's security interests, seriously undermined China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

Beijing has repeatedly urged the US to stop selling armaments to Taiwan and cut its military ties with the island. However, the US approved a potential $180 million arms sale to Taiwan in December amid ongoing tensions between the island and Beijing.

This comes less than a week after the US Commerce Department said it added to an export blacklist five Chinese firms and one research institute allegedly linked to Beijing's aerospace programs, including airships and balloons.

The companies include Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology Co., Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology Co, and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute, AFP reported.

The other three are Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology Co., Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co., and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co.

This step comes a day after the US Congress condemned China’s alleged use of what the US described as a "spy balloon" that flew over North America last weekend.

US-China tensions over Taiwan

Washington diplomatically recognizes Beijing over Taipei, but it is also bound by Congress to sell Taiwan weapons to "defend itself".

Former US President Donald Trump increased arms sales to Taiwan during his time in office as he feuded with Beijing on a host of issues from trade to national security. 

Sales included drones, missile systems, and new-generation fighter jets.

It is noteworthy that China considers the island of Taiwan an integral part of its territory and thus has long sought to reincorporate it into the mainland.

Beijing tried to reclaim the island of Taiwan multiple times. Just southwest of Taiwan, Hainan Island, another island that almost matches Taiwan's size extends along the Chinese mainland, and China reincorporated it in 1950.

In a direct reference to the possibility of war, China's Ambassador to the US suggested that the nations may face a "military conflict" over the future of Taiwan.

According to officials, Taiwan has begun deporting Chinese individuals for the first time in more than a year, despite China's repatriation of a Taiwanese fugitive in a rare show of cooperation as tensions escalate.

Read next: Senior US general warns of possible war with China

  • Taiwan
  • US
  • lockheed martin
  • China
  • Raytheon Missile
  • weapons sale

Trending Now

All
The chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu (Sputnik)

US won’t contain China by exploiting Taiwan issue: Official

Most Read

Indonesian president Joko Widodo during an interview in Jakarta in 2016 (Reuters)

Widodo urges Indonesia to abandon Visa, MasterCard to be 'independent'

  • Asia
  • 16 Mar
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen listens to opening remarks before testifying before the Senate Finance Committee about the President's proposed budget request for the fiscal year 2024, Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

US Debt ceiling ‘must be raised’ ahead of default: Treasury Secretary

  • US & Canada
  • 16 Mar
Rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

Peace rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

  • US & Canada
  • 18 Mar
Poland

Poland may end up 'joining' Ukraine war: Polish Ambassador to France

  • Europe
  • 20 Mar

Read this

All
In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian leader, Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei makes a public address at the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran, March 21, 2023 (Office of the Iranian leader via AP)
Asia

US sparked Ukraine war to expand NATO: Iranian leader Sayyed Khamenei

  • Today
Iraqi Army M1A1 Abrams tanks, purchased from the US, maneuver during a live fire exercise outside Baghdad, Iraq, October 18, 2011 (AP)
Europe

US expediting delivery of M1A1 Abrams tanks, Patriot system to Ukraine

  • 21 Mar
A general view of the illegal Israeli settlement of 'Efrat' in the occupied West Bank, occupied Palestine, January 30, 2023 (AP)
Palestine

'Israel' repeals law that sanctioned four West Bank settlements

  • 21 Mar
Russia, China sign joint statement on deepening strategic partnership
Europe

Russia, China sign joint statement on deepening strategic partnership

  • 21 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS