China imposes sanctions on 20 US companies. “The Taiwan issue is the core of business”

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that it had imposed sanctions on 10 US citizens and 20 US arms companies for selling weapons to Taiwan. The Taiwan issue is a red line in relations between China and the US, added the ministry, quoted by Reuters.

“The Taiwan issue is at the heart of China's interests and the first red line that cannot be crossed in Sino-US relations,” the ministry in Beijing said in a statement. “Any provocative actions that violate the border regarding Taiwan will be met with a harsh response from China,” it added.

The ministry also called on the US to stop “dangerous” efforts to arm the island.

Retaliation includes freezing of Chinese assets of companies and people on the sanctions list and a ban on doing business with partners in China. Moreover, these people will not be able to enter the PRC.

According to Reuters, the sanctioned American companies include: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation and L3Harris Maritime Services, as well as the Boeing branch in St. Louis.

Authorities in Beijing announced sanctions a few days after the US announced the sale of weapons worth $11.1 billion to Taiwan. This is the largest arms package for the island in US history.

China sees democratically ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, which Taipei rejects, and has not ruled out using force to take it over.

The United States is legally obliged to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, although arms sales are a constant source of tensions with China – recalled Reuters. (PAP)

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