Seven companies were hit with Chinese sanctions this week over U.S. military support for Taiwan. Taiwan is a self-governing democracy that China claims as part of its territory.
The U.S.’s military aid support of Taiwan often causes tension between Beijing and Washington. The U.S. State Department reaffirmed in December that Washington’s approach to Taiwan has remained consistent across every administration for the past 45 years.
The sanctions were also a reaction to the passage of the U.S. annual defense spending bill, which Beijing criticized in a statement from the Foreign Ministry, saying it “includes multiple negative sections on China.”
Who Are The Seven Companies
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against seven companies, including Insitu Inc., Hudson Technologies Co., Saronic Technologies, Inc., Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm Inc. and Oceaneering International Inc. The statement added that “relevant senior executives” from these firms are also targeted, though no names were disclosed.
The sanctions freeze any assets the targeted companies may hold in China and bar Chinese entities and individuals from conducting business with them, according to the Foreign Ministry.
