China Slams US Defence Firms with Sanctions Over Taiwan Arms Deal, Warns of 'Firm Response'

{ "title": "China Slams US Defence Firms with Sanctions Over Taiwan Arms Deal, Warns of 'Firm Response'", "article": "In a bold move, China has imposed sanctions on 20 US defence companies and 10 senior executives in response to Washington's recent decision to approve a massive $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan. The sanctions, announced by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, target companies such as Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation and Boeing, as well as top executives from L3Harris and VSE Corporation. The move is seen as a direct response to the US administration's approval of the arms package, which includes medium-range missiles, howitzers, and drones. China claims that the sale 'seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiques' and 'interferes in China's internal affairs'. Under the sanctions, all movable and immovable assets of the targeted companies located in China will be frozen, and Chinese organisations and individuals will be barred from conducting business with them. The measures also extend to the 10 senior executives, whose assets in China will be restricted and who will face limitations on activities related to China. China's Foreign Ministry has warned that 'any company or individual who engages in arms sales to Taiwan will pay the price for the wrongdoing'. The move is seen as a clear message from Beijing that it will not tolerate any further provocations on the Taiwan question. The US State Department has approved the sale of eight arms packages to Taiwan, including HIMARS rocket systems, anti-tank missiles, and drones, at an estimated total cost of $11.1 billion. The Taiwanese government has also put forth a special defence budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.85 billion) to cover the costs of the proposed sale. "