China sanctions US defence firm CEOs over Taiwan arms sales
- Chief executives from Raytheon Technologies and Boeing Defence targeted after US approves US$1.1 billion weapons deal to the island
- Beijing says agreement undermines its sovereignty; Washington says it doesn’t violate its one-China policy
Beijing has announced fresh sanctions on two American defence companies in retaliation for the latest US arms sales to Taiwan, this time targeting the firms’ chief executives.
“To safeguard China’s sovereignty and security interests, the Chinese government has decided to impose sanctions on Gregory J. Hayes, chairman and CEO of Raytheon Technologies Corporation, and Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Defence, over their involvement in the arms sales this time,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday, without elaborating.
“[The arms sale] has seriously damaged China’s sovereignty and security interests, and seriously damaged Sino-US relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,” she said.
“China will continue to take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and security interests.”
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The US State Department said the arms deal was authorised under the Taiwan Relations Act and did not violate Washington’s one-China policy.
