Chinese Regime Sanctions US Military Contractors for Supplying Weapons to Taiwan

China imposed Thursday trade sanctions and investment in US military contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to supply weapons to Taiwan as part of its efforts to isolate the island democracy, which the ruling Communist Party claims as part of its territory.

Companies will not be able to import goods into China or make new investments in the country, the Commerce Ministry said.

The impact of the sanctions on Lockheed Martin or Raytheon was not immediately clear. The United States bans most sales of weapons technology in China, but some military contractors have civilian operations in aerospace, among other markets.

Taiwan and China they separated in 1949 after a civil war. The island was never part of the People’s Republic of China but the Communist Party maintains that it is bound to join the mainland, by force if necessary.

Xi Jinping’s regime has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by deploying fighter jets and bombers near the island and launching missiles into the sea.

Nevertheless, Japan and the United States Large-scale joint military exercises began Thursday in the southwestern Japanese archipelago, aimed at improving their operational capabilities in the face of China’s growing presence in these waters.

These annual exercises called “Iron Fist” (“Iron Fist”) are held for the first time outside of California (USA) since their launch in 2006, and in this edition they have a total of 1,700 soldiers.

Maneuvers include simulating the defense and recapture of remote islands using amphibious vehicles and aircraft. Ospreyand will last until March 12, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

Among the points where they will be carried out is the main island of Okinawa or Tokunoshima there Kikaijimawhich are part of the chain of islands in the southwest of the Japanese archipelago that constitute the country’s first line of defense in the event of potential conflicts.

These islands are close to Taiwan and the Senkakuuninhabited islets administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing, which calls them Diaoyu.

The frequent activities of Chinese ships in the waters near these islands are a source of growing concern for Japan and regular diplomatic protests against the neighboring country.

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have cooled in recent years over territorial disputes, and Japan has called the Asian giant an “unprecedented challenge” to its military rise in the region and its rapprochement with Russia.

(With information from AP and EFE)

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