Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced the decision to take countermeasures against seven US military companies and relevant senior executives over recent military assistance and arms sales to China's Taiwan region. 

Recently, the United States announced another substantial military assistance and arms sale to China's Taiwan region. Its "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025" includes multiple negative sections on China. These seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. Joint Communiqués, interfere in China's internal affairs, and undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to Foreign Ministry's announcement. 

Pursuant to Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 15 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China hereby decides to take the following countermeasures against seven companies including Insitu, Inc., Hudson Technologies Co., Saronic Technologies, Inc., Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm Inc. and Oceaneering International, Inc., and relevant senior executives, according to the statement. 

Their movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen. All organizations and individuals within China shall be prohibited from engaging in transaction, cooperation and other activities with them, read the statement.

This decision shall come into force as of December 27, 2024, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference on Friday that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end. The US's aiding "Taiwan independence" by arming Taiwan will only backfire, leading to self-inflicted consequences. 

The China-related clauses in relevant US legislation are filled with Cold War zero-sum mentality and ideological bias, distorting the facts to hype the "China threat," and using military support for Taiwan island as an excuse to increase US military spending and maintain US hegemony, which jeopardizes regional peace and stability, said Mao.

China urges the US side to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the provisions of the August 17 Communique and immediately stop arming Taiwan in any form, said Mao. 

The US should adopt an objective and rational view of China's development and China-US relations, refrain from implementing the negative clauses in the relevant legislation, and stop taking actions or making statements that harm China's interests. China will continue to take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests, said Mao. 

Source: Global Times

BDST: 2138 HRS, DEC 27, 2024
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