Boeing faces sanctions from China over arms sales to Taiwan

[New Sancai Compilation and First Release] China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on May 20, the day that Taiwan’s president took office, that it would impose sanctions on the US Boeing Company and two other US defense companies for arms sales to Taiwan. The move is the latest in a series of sanctions that China has announced in recent years against foreign defense companies that sell weapons to Taiwan.

China’s Commerce Ministry added Boeing’s defense, space and security arm, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems to a list of so-called “unreliable entities,” banning them from further investment in China and imposing sanctions on senior executives. Travel ban for companies.

Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, has vowed to strengthen Taiwan's security by importing advanced fighter jets and other technology and strengthening the domestic defense industry.

In April 2024, China froze the assets of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems in China. The company helps build Abrams tanks, which Taiwan is buying to replace outdated armor designed to deter or resist Chinese invasion.

General Atomics makes the Predator and Reaper drones used by the U.S. military, but it is unclear what weapons the company is selling to Taiwan.

In 2022, China announced sanctions on Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security. The company won a $355 million contract to supply Harpoon missiles to Taiwan.

Taiwan faces increasing military harassment from China's People's Liberation Army, which regularly flies fighter jets and sails warships near the island.

The possible impact of Beijing's sanctions on companies such as Boeing is unclear. The United States bans the sale of most weapons-related technology to China, but some military contractors also have civilian operations in aerospace and other industries.

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)