China on Friday said it would impose
sanctions on US companies involved in a potential arms sale worth $2.2
billion to self-ruled Taiwan -- a move that has infuriated Beijing.
"The US arms sale to Taiwan has severely violated the basic norms of
international law and international relations," Chinese foreign ministry
spokesman Geng Shuang said in an online statement.
"In order to safeguard national interests, China will impose sanctions
on US enterprises participating in this sale of weapons to Taiwan," he
said.
The planned weapons sale, the first transfer of big-ticket United States
military gear to democratically-governed Taiwan in decades, comes as
ties between Washington and Beijing are already strained by their trade
war.
China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.
It bristles at any countries that might lend Taiwan diplomatic support or legitimacy.
Earlier this week, the Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing had lodged
formal complaints through diplomatic channels expressing "strong
dissatisfaction and resolute opposition" at the potential weapons sale,
which includes battle tanks and anti-aircraft missiles.
China on Tuesday had also demanded that the US "immediately cancel" the $2.2 billion potential arms sale.
The US later shrugged off China's complaints, responding that the equipment would contribute to "peace and stability" in Asia.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said Friday that Taipei would
"continue our self-defence to counter the threats and challenges" from
Beijing.
-'Downward trend'-
It is not the first time that Beijing has threatened sanctions following a planned US arms sale to Taiwan.
In 2010, the US approved a package of Patriot missiles, Black Hawk
helicopters, and other military hardware totalling $6.4 billion.
The planned deal drew an angry response from Beijing, which cut off
military and security contracts with Washington and threatened to impose
sanctions on the firms involved in the transaction.
Still, the latest move marks "a significant escalation on the part of
the Chinese government" said Steve Tsang, a China-Taiwan relations
expert at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.
Though diplomatic relations are strained over a number of issues,
China's sanctions threat is indicative of a "broad downward trend," and
not necessarily a significant "downturn in bilateral relations," said
Roy Kamphausen, senior vice president for research at the US-based
National Bureau of Asian Research.
- 'Playing with fire' -
With the US currently engaged in a trade war with China, relations between Taipei and Washington have warmed considerably.
Unlike the last three American presidents, who were wary of angering Beijing, Donald Trump has ramped up relations with Taiwan.
And although Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to
Beijing in 1979, it has remained Taiwan's most powerful unofficial ally
and biggest arms supplier.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday warned Washington "not to
play with fire with the Taiwan question" during a visit to Hungary.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is spending two days in the US this
week ahead of a trip to visit diplomatic allies in the Caribbean.
The decision to let Tsai pass through the US has drawn ire from Beijing,
which voiced "firm" opposition to official exchanges between Washington
and Taipei.
Separately, foreign ministry spokesman Geng told a press briefing Friday
that the US should not provide a platform for "Taiwan independence
separatist forces."
"We urge the US... to not let Tsai Ing-wen pass through its territory," said Geng.
After her US trip, Tsai will visit Haiti, St Vincent and the Grenadines,
St Lucia, and St Christopher and Nevis, in an attempt to shore up
support for Taiwan.
China has poached five of Taipei's dwindling number of allies since Tsai became president in 2016.
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