China sanctions 2 US-based defense companies over weapons sale to Taiwan

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - China has decided to impose sanctions on two US-based military-industrial firms due to their involvement in the sale of US weapons to Taiwan, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Aerospace and defense firms Northrop Grumman Corp and Lockheed Martin Corp have been sanctioned for supplying weapons to Taiwan, the ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, according to the Global Times.

Beijing also called on the US to halt its military ties with Taiwan and to refrain from supplying weaponry to the island.

Mao further added that failure to do so would lead to a firm and resolute response from China.

China on Wednesday warned Taiwan’s ruling party that its attempts to purchase weapons from the US are harming the interests of local people and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of attempting to pursue “independence” by force, relying on the US.

In response to Taiwan’s move to submit a joint letter to the UN secretary-general through its allies that urged him "to rectify the UN’s erroneous interpretation of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2,758," Chen said the UN is an intergovernmental organization composed only of sovereign states.

"As a part of China, Taiwan island is not qualified at all to become a member of the UN. Despite this fact, the history, and the law, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have been distorting the UNGA Resolution 2,758," he added.

Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also strongly reacted to the reports and said: "There can only be one seat representing China at the UN."