Mao Ning
China sanctioned two US defence companies, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, on Friday for their roles in supplying arms to Taiwan.
The Taiwan Relations Act requires the United States Congress to transfer arms to the self-governing democracy for defence purposes.
Previously, US administrations have done so through sales rather than direct help, but in August, Washington granted direct US military aid to Taiwan for the first time as part of an assistance programme aimed at foreign governments.
At a press briefing, Mao Ning, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, stated, “Despite China’s firm opposition, the US government is determined to provide weapons to Taiwan… seriously harming China’s sovereignty and security interests, and going further and further on the wrong and dangerous road of arming Taiwan”.
She stated that Lockheed Martin was the prime contractor in the August 24 US arms sales to Taiwan and that Northrop Grumman had participated in the deals.
“According to the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the PRC, China has decided to impose sanctions on the above two US military companies”, Mao Ning added.
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