China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Dec. 26 that, in response to the sale of military equipment to Taiwan, it has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and 20 U.S. defense companies.
The ministry said that all assets of the sanctioned companies and individuals in China will be frozen, and Chinese organizations and citizens will be prohibited from conducting any transactions with them.
The individuals named in the sanctions list including the founder of defense firm Anduril Industries and nine senior executives of the sanctioned companies are also barred from entering China.
The move comes after Washington approved an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the largest U.S. weapons package to the island that China considers part of its territory.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Taiwan is at the core of China’s interests and that the United States should not cross this “red line.”
The statement warned that any provocative actions on the matter would trigger a “resolute response” from China, emphasizing that the U.S. must end its “dangerous” efforts to arm Taiwan.
China regards democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory, a claim rejected by Taipei.
Arms sales to Taiwan have long been a source of tension between Washington and Beijing.
