Beijing charged Raytheon and Boeing with being involved in an arms deal worth $1.1 billion between Taiwan and the United States.
Beijing is placing personal sanctions upon the two US weapon manufacturing giants’ CEOs for their participation in Taiwan arms sales. Chinese Foreign Ministry Monday confirmed the news. The announcement comes 2 weeks after Washington had announced the $1.1 Billion arms package for the island. This was the largest US-Taiwan contract under the Joe Biden presidency.
Mao Ning (spokeswoman for the foreign ministry) explained that US arms were sold to the island. China regards it as its territory. “seriously violate” the so-called “One China” policy and existing agreements between the US and China.
“To defend China’s sovereignty and security interests, the Chinese government has decided to sanction Gregory J. Hayes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon Technologies Corporation, and Theodore Colbert III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, who were involved in the latest arms sale,”Without elaborating as to what type of sanctions she would impose, she stated.
According to Reuters, Boeing is the principal contractor for Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and Raytheon – for Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and radar systems equipment, included in the sale.
Since February when Washington made an announcement about the sale to Taipei of Patriot missile systems upgrades worth $100 million, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have been under Chinese sanctions.
Mao Ning asked Washington for an end to all arms deliveries to Taiwan. “to stop creating factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait.”
She said that her country will continue to use all available measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and interests. The US insists that its massive arms packages are not in breach of the “One China” policy and would simply help Taiwan to maintain a proper self-defense capability.
After Nancy Pelosi’s August visit to Taipei, the tensions between China and America soared. China responded to this by staging large-scale military drills near the island. Washington responded by sending a fleet cruisers into the Taiwan Strait.
The US Senate passed Wednesday’s bill, which would provide $4.5 billion of security assistance to Taipei for four years, despite the tensions with China.
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