China Responds to U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan
"In response to the latest US announcement of large-scale arms sales to China's Taiwan region, China has decided to take countermeasures in accordance with the anti-foreign sanctions law against 20 US defense-related companies and 10 senior executives who have engaged in arming Taiwan in recent years," said a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The Trump administration unveiled eight new arms packages for Taiwan earlier this month exceeding $11 billion—a single-transaction record for Taipei.
The US State Department greenlit sales including over $4 billion for 60 M107A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers with associated equipment, 82 M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, 420 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), more than $1 billion in ALTIUS tube-launched loitering drone munitions, and $353 million in TOW missiles.
Beijing condemned the transfer sharply, declaring in a ministry statement: "We stress once again that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations."
"Anyone who attempts to cross the line and make provocations on the Taiwan question will be met with China's firm response. … No country or force shall ever underestimate the resolve, will, and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," it added.
The ministry announced "movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets" belonging to sanctioned US companies and individuals within China "shall be frozen."
"All organizations and individuals within China shall be prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation, and other activities with them," it said.
Beijing pressed Washington to honor the one-China principle and three China-US joint communiques, cease dangerous Taiwan armament activities, and halt actions destabilizing Taiwan Strait peace.
The statement urged America to "stop sending wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," emphasizing Beijing will continue implementing "resolute measures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity."
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