China implemented sanctions against 20 US defense companies following the Trump administration's endorsement of a historic $ 11.1 billion arms sales deal to Taiwan.
The Foreign Ministry issued a statement cautioning that any efforts to provoke China regarding the Taiwan matter would result in a strong reaction.
In reaction to the US declaration of significant arms sales to what it termed "China's Taiwan region," the ministry stated that Beijing has opted to implement countermeasures against 20 American defense-related companies and 10 high-ranking executives who have participated in supplying arms to Taiwan in recent years.
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"The Taiwan issue is fundamentally linked to China's core interests and represents the primary red line that must not be breached in China-US relations." “Anyone who tries to cross the line and provoke regarding the Taiwan issue will encounter a strong reaction from China,” it stated.
It called on the US to adhere to the one-China principle and to "cease the hazardous actions of arming Taiwan, halt actions that threaten peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and refrain from sending incorrect signals to 'Taiwan independence' separatist groups".
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Reports indicate that China will persist in implementing strong actions to firmly uphold national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
The sanctions were mainly regarded as symbolic since the majority of the affected US defense companies lack operations in China.
The suggested arms sales, needing the US Congress's approval, arise from worries in Taipei about a possible invasion by China, which asserts that the self-governing island is a part of its territory.
If authorized, as is largely anticipated due to robust bipartisan backing for Taiwan in the US Congress, the package would exceed the USD 8.4 billion in arms sold to Taiwan throughout the Biden administration.
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The scale of the proposal is expected to calm China hawks in Washington who have become concerned about President Donald Trump’s dedication to protecting Taiwan while he aims to negotiate trade and economic agreements with Beijing, the report noted.