China imposes sanctions on U.S. companies over arms shipments to Taiwan

China has imposed sanctions against 13 US companies in response to the US arms sales to Taiwan. A statement to this effect was published on Thursday, December 5, on the website of the country's Foreign Ministry.

"Recently, the United States has again announced the sale of arms to Taiwan. <...> This is a serious interference in China's internal affairs and serious damage to the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the document reads.

Thus, sanctions were imposed against Treda Brown, BRINC, Rapid Flight, Red Six Plan, Shield, Senix, Firestorm, Quitos System, Catastrophe, Niros, Cyberlux, Domo Tactical Communication Company and Group W Company. Also on the sanctions list were six executives.

It is noted that they will be subject to measures to freeze their assets in the country, as well as a ban on any transactions, cooperation or other activities with them organizations and individuals in the PRC.

Earlier, on December 1, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China condemns the organization in the United States "transit" of Taiwan's Chief of Staff Lai Qingde through their territory. In addition, the Chinese Foreign Ministry opposed any such contacts.

Before that, on November 24, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said that the United States was using Taiwan to foment conflict in Asia in order to realize its interests. The diplomat noted that the situation in Taiwan is within the exclusive competence of the PRC. However, Washington is strengthening military-political contacts with Taipei in violation of the "one China" principle it recognizes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Nov. 17 that the United States should not interfere in the South China Sea disputes and the Taiwan issue. He urged Washington to respect Beijing's red lines.

The conflict between China and Taiwan escalated after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in August 2022. The Chinese side considers Taiwan its territory, so it views visits to the island by officials from other countries as support for Taiwan's independence.

Official relations between the PRC government and its island province broke down in 1949 when the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek, who lost in a civil war with the Communist Party of China, moved to Taiwan. Contacts between the island and mainland China resumed in the late 1980s. The U.S. openly supports the Taiwanese authorities.