China imposed an export ban on 28 U.S. defense companies

China has imposed a ban on the export of dual-use products for 28 U.S. defense companies. This was reported by the South China Morning Post on January 2.

It noted that the purpose of the restrictions is to maintain national security and "fulfill international obligations.

Among the companies hit by the ban are General Dynamics, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Raytheon Missiles & Defense.

"The defense and aerospace companies were also included in the sanctions list announced by Beijing's foreign ministry late last year in response to ongoing U.S. arms shipments to Taiwan," the publication pointed out, citing China's Ministry of Commerce.

It is specified that the list of "unreliable organizations" included five subsidiaries of Lockheed Martin, three companies General Dynamics, as well as Raytheon Missile Systems and a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

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Earlier on Dec. 22, China's Foreign Ministry expressed strong dissatisfaction with U.S. military aid to Taiwan and called on Washington to stop carrying out dangerous actions that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

On Dec. 20, it was reported that the U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of a military communications system and related equipment to Taipei's economic and cultural representative office in the United States at an estimated cost of $265 million. At the same time, current U.S. President Joe Biden ordered $571 million in military aid to Taiwan.

The conflict between China and Taiwan escalated after former 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.