CHINA TOPIX

11/22/2024 09:16:47 am

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Beijing to Sanction Manufacturers of Weapons US Recently Sold to Taiwan

File photo of China's military weapons

(Photo : Reauters) China is reportedly planning to sanction companies, whose weapons have been sold to Taiwan.

Beijing is not taking the recent United States arms sale to Taiwan sitting down, and has summoned the charge d' affaires of the US Embassy in China to protest what it deems a violation of international law and "the basic norms of international relations."

China's Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang on Wednesday called on Kaye Lee, US charges d' affaires, and made it known that Beijing strongly opposes the US arms sale to Taiwan.

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Zheng released a statement on China's official stance after the U.S. government announced that it had sold a $1.83 billion arms package to Taiwan.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. China strongly opposes the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan," Zheng said.

Zheng said that aside from going against international law, the recent U.S. arms sale to Taiwan violates the principles in the three China-US joint communique, and interferes with China's sovereignty and security concerns.

Beijing was so upset about the sale that it announced it will take measures to protect its sovereignty and national interest by imposing sanctions against the American manufacturers of the arms package.

RTN.N and Lockheed Martin were reportedly the companies that were the main contractors for the U.S. weapons sale.

Zheng minced no words in berating the U.S. government for interfering with China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said the will of the Chinese government and its citizens to defend their country will not be swayed and that China will always oppose foreign interference such as that of the U.S.

The Vice Foreign Minister declared a 3-point ultimatum that the U.S. must follow if the latter wanted to prevent further damage on China-US relations and other areas of bilateral cooperation.

Beijing's ultimatum insisted that the U.S. observe and abide by the commitment they made in the three China-US communique. It also wants the U.S. to rescind the arms sale agreement entered into with Taiwan, and to cease all military contact with Taiwan.

A year after Congress passed a legislation authorizing the U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan, President Barack Obama notified Congress of his approval of the sale on Wednesday in spite of China's opposition.

The $1.83 billion arms package consists of amphibious assault vehicles, two frigates, and anti-tank missiles, among others.

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