Beijing has imposed sanctions on Lockheed Martin’s subsidiaries and senior executives in response to the US’s latest arms sale to Taiwan.
China has implemented sanctions against Lockheed Martin, a US arms manufacturer, and its subsidiaries and senior executives due to the sale of weapons to Taiwan, which China considers a violation of the “One-China principle.”
The sanctions will freeze assets, both movable and immovable, belonging to Lockheed Martin and its top executives within China. These individuals will also be barred from entering the country, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday.
Specifically targeted are Lockheed Martin CEO James Teclit, Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John, Chief Financial Officer Jesse Malefe, and others, as well as subsidiaries such as the Lockheed Martin Missile Systems Integration Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technologies Laboratory, and Lockheed Martin Ventures.
Earlier this week, the US State Department approved a new arms sale to Taiwan, valued at $360 million, which includes hundreds of armed drones and missiles. This deal will provide Taiwan with Altius-600M systems, unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with warheads, and associated equipment. Washington will also supply 720 Switchblade kamikaze drones, known as “extended-range loitering munitions,” along with accompanying fire control systems.
Last month, the Chinese authorities imposed sanctions on 12 American defense contractors, including subsidiaries of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, as well as ten executives. These restrictions, encompassing asset freezes and travel bans, were a response to Washington’s efforts to arm Taiwan and the imposition of “illegal” sanctions on Chinese firms. The US Treasury had previously imposed restrictive measures on over a dozen Chinese entities for allegedly supplying military-related goods to Russia.
The Chinese government has condemned this move as unlawful, claiming it is part of a larger US strategy aimed at undermining China’s economic development. Beijing has emphasized that, unlike Washington, it is not involved in the Ukraine conflict.
Beijing has long accused Washington of escalating tensions over Taiwan and has denounced US arms sales to the region, which it considers part of China’s sovereign territory. Chinese authorities have also protested against visits by high-ranking US officials to the island, arguing that such actions violate the “One-China” principle.
Meanwhile, the White House maintains that supplying Taiwan with weapons is essential to deter China from taking the island by force. China’s stated policy aims for a peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but the government has warned that it would be forced to use force if Taiwan attempted to declare independence.