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

- Beijing will give resolute response if US does not halt its military ties with Taiwan, says Foreign Ministry

ADDS STATEMENT BY CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY

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.

Lockheed Martin Corporation directly participated in the US arms sale to Taiwan announced on Aug. 24 as the principal contractor, while Northrop Grumman Corporation participated in several US arms sales to Taiwan, said the ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a news conference

“In accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People’s Republic of China, China decides to impose sanctions on these two above-mentioned US defense corporations,” Mao added.

Mao said that the US is “going further down the wrong and dangerous path” by providing military support to Taiwan.

“We call on the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiqués, stop arms sales to Taiwan, stop military collusion with Taiwan, and stop arming Taiwan, otherwise it will be met with China’s resolute response,” Mao added.

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."

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