China Orders Immediate Sanctions

(ConservativeInsider.org) – While the United States does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act ensures America will always provide the island with whatever equipment it needs to defend itself. In recent months, China has grown increasingly agitated at Taiwan’s self-governance and has been sending its fighter jets to cruise near the island, causing tensions to rise. Two US-based defense contractors recently announced weapons sales to Taiwan, and now China is sanctioning them.

On Thursday, February 16, the Chinese government announced new sanctions on Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missile and Defense Corp, which is owned by Raytheon Technologies. The two businesses can no longer import or export from the nation as they are now on the “unreliable entity” list.

During a press briefing on Thursday, February 16, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the sanctions “symbolic and unnecessary.” Most experts agree the sanctions will not rattle the companies too much as federal law already bans them from selling military equipment and weapons to China.

Previously, Lockheed Martin sent airport equipment and helicopters to China for civilian and commercial use. However, the company also sent similar equipment to Taiwan recently to assist in the development of its own fighter jets and navy frigates.

China imposed trade and investment sanctions on Lockheed Martin and a unit of Raytheon for supplying weapons to Taiwan. https://t.co/WrFQjZSHcn

— FORTUNE (@FortuneMagazine) February 16, 2023

Raytheon Missiles and Defense is currently rolling out a $412 million contract with Taiwan to assist with radar upgrades. In the same package, Congress approved Boeing Defense sending the island $355 million worth of Harpoon missiles.

These actions took place just days after the US blacklisted six China-based companies that were connected to the spy balloon our military recently shot down. President Joe Biden hopes these sanctions will limit China’s development of its surveillance program that managed to float a balloon above the continental United States for a week before getting taken down.