In a significant move that could further strain U.S.-China relations, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced on Thursday the addition of 10 U.S. companies to its unreliable entities list over arms sales to the Taiwan region.
Among the targeted companies are prominent defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab, as detailed by the MOC.
The designation imposes strict measures on these companies, prohibiting them from engaging in China-related import or export activities and barring them from making new investments within China, according to the ministry’s announcement.
Furthermore, senior executives of these companies face personal sanctions, including bans on entering China, revocation of work permits and visitor or residency status, and denial of any related applications.
The MOC stated that despite China’s strong opposition, these companies have been involved in arms sales to the Taiwan region and have conducted what it termed “so-called cooperation on military technologies” in recent years.
“Their actions severely undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, severely violate the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and severely undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry declared, emphasizing that the companies will be held legally accountable.
The ministry underscored that China’s unreliable entity provisions are aimed at a limited number of foreign entities that threaten China’s national security, and reaffirmed that the Chinese government remains welcoming to foreign companies investing and expanding their businesses in China.
China is committed to providing a stable, fair, and predictable business environment for companies that operate in accordance with the law, the MOC added.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
