China Sanctions US Companies

China is upset the US is providing military equipment to China. In response, China Sanctions Boeing, Other U.S. Companies

The Chinese government imposed sanctions on 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 of their executives on Friday in retaliation for the Trump administration's approval of a large package of weapons for sale to Taiwan.

The targets include Northrop Grumman, Boeing's St. Louis-based defense unit and Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries. Preparing for a potential conflict with China has been a major focus for Luckey and his startup, which owns three of the sanctioned companies.

Beijing said it would freeze the assets of the sanctioned entities, ban them from Chinese transactions and prohibit the executives from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The move is largely symbolic because U.S. defense contractors generally do little business in China. It emphasizes Beijing's claim over Taiwan, the democratically ruled island that it has vowed to take by force if necessary.

In announcing the sanctions, China's Foreign Ministry said that the U.S. weapons approval "interferes in China's internal affairs, and seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The U.S. has sold Taiwan arms for years. Last week, Washington approved a $11.1 billion package that includes Himars missile launchers and howitzers designed to help Taiwan slow a Chinese attack.

The Trump administration's approval of the sales addressed concerns among U.S. lawmakers who worried about President Trump's deepening ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The two are scheduled to meet in April.

The U.S. is committed to providing Taiwan with defensive weaponry under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, and every administration since then has complied.

China Developing Options to Threaten Taiwan With 'Brute Force'

Things are heating up in relations with China. Also note China Developing Options to Threaten Taiwan With 'Brute Force,' Pentagon Says

China is making steady progress on developing more sophisticated weapons and expanding its armed force's ability to operate away from the mainland, including against Taiwan, according to the Pentagon's latest assessment of Beijing's military strength.