China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Thursday that it has added 10 U.S. companies to its “unreliable entities list” for their involvement in arms sales to Taiwan. The move highlights ongoing tensions between Beijing and companies supplying military equipment to the island.
The blacklisted companies include divisions of Lockheed Martin, such as Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab. According to the announcement, these companies are now prohibited from engaging in import or export activities related to China and are barred from making new investments in the country.
Senior executives from these companies face additional restrictions. They are banned from entering China, will have their work permits and residency status revoked, and any future applications will not be approved.
The Ministry stated that despite China’s strong opposition, these companies have continued to engage in arms sales to Taiwan and have cooperated on military technologies in recent years. Beijing views these actions as undermining its sovereignty and territorial integrity, violating the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and threatening peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
While the unreliable entities list targets foreign entities deemed to undermine China’s national security, the Ministry emphasized that China remains open to foreign businesses. The government is committed to providing a stable, fair, and predictable environment for companies that operate within the law.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
