In a statement issued on Friday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced punitive measures against 20 U.S. defence firms and 10 individuals connected to those companies. Among the sanctioned entities is the St. Louis branch of Boeing, one of the largest defence contractors in the United States. The individuals named include the founder of defence technology firm Anduril Industries, along with nine senior executives from other targeted companies.
According to the ministry, all assets held by the sanctioned companies and individuals within China will be frozen with immediate effect. In addition, Chinese organisations and citizens are prohibited from engaging in any form of business or cooperation with them. The individuals listed are also subject to entry bans, barring them from travelling to or transiting through Chinese territory.
Chinese officials said the sanctions were imposed in direct response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province and a non-negotiable part of its territory. China has repeatedly opposed military support for Taiwan by foreign governments, arguing that such actions undermine regional stability and violate the “One China” principle.
While the foreign ministry did not specify the exact defence contracts that triggered the latest measures, it reiterated that China reserves the right to take “necessary countermeasures” against entities it believes are harming its national security interests. The announcement follows a pattern of previous sanctions imposed by Beijing on foreign defence companies involved in supplying weapons to Taiwan.
The development adds another layer of strain to already tense U.S.–China relations, particularly at a time when military, economic and diplomatic frictions between the two powers remain high. With defence firms playing a central role in Washington’s security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region, the sanctions are likely to have implications beyond the targeted companies, reinforcing the geopolitical fault lines surrounding Taiwan and the broader balance of power in the region.
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