China on Monday threatened to retaliate against companies involved in arms sales to Taiwan after the United States approved a $300 million deal aimed at boosting the region’s defense capabilities.
Washington announced on Friday that it has authorized the sale of military defense equipment to Taiwan, which faces the threat of an invasion by China.
The decision comes as Taiwan, which considers Beijing its province, prepares to hold presidential elections next month.
“We will retaliate against companies involved in arms sales to Taiwan,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a news conference.
The spokesperson did not specify what these measures would consist of, nor did he provide details on the timeline or the companies that could be targeted.
“China will take firm and strong measures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Wang stressed.
China and Taiwan have lived as two autonomous areas since 1949, when the former Chinese Nationalist government took refuge on the island after its defeat in the civil war against the communists.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and is threatening reunification with force if the island formally declares independence.
Taiwan is a major point of tension between the world’s two largest economies.
Chinese authorities regularly warn against any American decision that would support the island’s formal independence.
In September, Beijing placed US defense giants Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman under sanctions over arms sales to Taiwan.
In 1979, the United States broke diplomatic relations with Taipei to recognize the Beijing-based communist government as the sole representative of China. But they remained the main ally and arms supplier to the area.
Source: DN
