China Sanctions 30 US Firms, Individuals As A Retaliatory Measure Against US Weapons Sales To Taiwan.

Beijing; December 2025: The latest US weapons deal with Taiwan, announced by President Donald Trump on December 17th, included the proposed sale of 82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS worthing more than $4 billion.

The defence systems are similar to what the US had been providing Ukraine to defend against Russian aerial attacks. The deal also includes 60 self-propelled howitzer artillery systems and related equipment worth more than $4 billion and drones valued at more than $1 billion.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence too has praised the US for assisting Taiwan “in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities and in rapidly building strong deterrent power”.

As per the United States law, the country is bound to provide Taiwan, which rejects Beijing’s claim to the territory, with the means to defend itself. But the said US arms sales to the island have deepened tensions with China.

In a sharp retaliatory action, the Chinese authorities have imposed sanction on 10 American Individuals along with 20 US Defence Companies for the sale deed with Taiwan. The sanctioned companies include Boeing’s St Louis branch, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, L3Harris Maritime Services and Lazarus AI.

The measures adopted by China enable them to freeze these companies’ assets in China and bar domestic organisations and individuals from working with them, according to the ministry.

According to a report in September, Boeing has reportedly discussed the potential sale of up to 500 commercial jets to Chinese airlines, a development that could reopen the world’s second-largest aviation market after years of US-China trade tensions.

China is also expected to seize the China-held assets of sanctioned individuals and ban them from entering the country. Targeted individuals include the founder of defence firm Anduril Industries and nine senior executives from the sanctioned firms. The measures took effect on December 26th.

“Any provocative actions that cross the line on the Taiwan issue ‌will be met with a strong ⁠response from China”, said a statement from the ministry, urging the US to cease “dangerous” efforts to arm the island.

In response, the US State Department said it “strongly” objected to “Beijing’s efforts to retaliate against US companies for their support of US arms sales that support Taiwan’s self- defence capabilities”. A State Department spokesperson also urged China to come to the negotiation table with Taiwan rather than impose military, diplomatic, and economic pressure.

Team Maverick.