In a statement released on Friday, China’s foreign ministry said it had imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and 20 U.S. defence firms, including Boeing’s St. Louis branch. The measures include freezing any assets the targeted entities and individuals hold within China and prohibiting Chinese organisations and citizens from conducting business with them.
The sanctions also extend to individuals connected to the defence industry. According to the ministry, those named—including the founder of defence technology firm Anduril Industries and nine senior executives from the sanctioned companies—will be barred from entering China. Other companies affected by the move include Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation and L3Harris Maritime Services, both key players in the U.S. defence sector.
Beijing’s action follows the United States’ announcement last week of an $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, described as the largest weapons sale to the island to date. The deal has drawn sharp criticism from Chinese officials, who view such transactions as a direct challenge to China’s sovereignty and territorial claims.
“The Taiwan issue is the core of China’s core interests and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China–U.S. relations,” a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said. The statement warned that any actions Washington takes on Taiwan that Beijing deems provocative will be met with a “strong response,” and urged the U.S. to halt what it called “dangerous” efforts to arm the island.
China considers democratically governed Taiwan to be part of its territory, a position firmly rejected by the government in Taipei. The dispute over Taiwan remains one of the most contentious issues in China–U.S. relations.
The United States, for its part, is legally bound under its domestic laws to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons. While Washington does not formally recognise Taiwan as an independent state, its continued arms sales have long been a source of friction with Beijing and are often met with diplomatic protests and retaliatory measures.
Friday’s sanctions underscore how sensitive the Taiwan issue remains and highlight the growing strain in relations between China and the United States, particularly as military and strategic competition between the two powers continues to intensify.