China announces moves against nine companies linked to the US military , because of US arms sales to Taiwan, reports "Reuters". The property of the sanctioned companies in China has been frozen, as quoted by News.bg.
This is another move by Beijing to put additional pressure on the United States to stop arms sales to the island. China has repeatedly called on the White House – an important international supporter and supplier of arms to the democratically-ruled Taiwan – to refrain from official relations with the leadership of the island.
Beijing considers Taiwan its territory.
The actions taken against the companies, which include Sierra Nevada Corporation and Stick Rudder Enterprises LLC, are effective today. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said these actions were countermeasures that also applied to Cubic Corporation, S3 Aerospace, TCOM Ltd Partnership, TextOre, Planate Management Group, ACT1 Federal and Exovera.
Organizations and individuals in China are prohibited from engaging in transactions with the companies in question.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian urged the United States to "immediately stop the dangerous trend of arming Taiwan". "Stop supporting Taiwan independence and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," he urged at a regular press conference.
China has previously imposed sanctions and bans on companies, including divisions of Lockheed Martin, over arms sales to Taiwan. Beijing has said it strongly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan and has called on Washington to stop them immediately.
Over the past five years, China has stepped up military and political pressure on the island to assert its territorial claims, which Taipei strongly rejects.