Due mainly to their role in arms sales to Taiwan, China recently increased the severity of its sanctions against the US by focusing on 28 defense companies. According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, this move is a component of a larger plan to protect China’s interests and national security.
Targeted Firms: China has put 28 defense-related U.S. corporations to its Export Control List.
Important Companies Involved: Among the sanctioned are major defense contractors, including General Dynamics (three subsidiaries), Raytheon (three subsidiaries), Boeing (one subsidiary), and Lockheed Martin (including five subsidiaries).
Prohibitions: Chinese firms are no longer allowed to supply the listed corporations with dual-use commodities, or those that can be used for both military and civilian objectives. They are also not allowed to make new investments or engage in import and export operations in China.
List of Unreliable Entities: Ten of these companies have been classified as “unreliable entities,” which carries even harsher penalties, such as prohibiting their executives from traveling, in addition to the Export Control List.
This measure comes after a slew of U.S. initiatives seen to pose a threat to China’s national security, especially in relation to military assistance for Taiwan. The Chinese government sees these sanctions as essential steps in upholding its international non-proliferation commitments and safeguarding its sovereignty. A complex interaction between economic, military policy, and geopolitical goals is reflected in the two countries’ ongoing disputes.
China’s sanctions against these American defense companies demonstrate China’s determination to protect its interests in the face of alleged external threats and the growing hostility between Beijing and Washington over military assistance for Taiwan.
