China takes countermeasures against US military companies, senior executives

China announced on Friday countermeasures against seven United States military companies and relevant senior executives over arms assistance and weapons sales to the Taiwan region, and vowed to keep taking all necessary measures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

The decision, which was made in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, takes effect immediately, according to an online statement from the Foreign Ministry.

The movable and immovable property as well as other types of assets within China of those companies and individuals are frozen, the statement said.

Organizations and individuals within China are also prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation or any related activities with the named firms, it added.

The seven sanctioned firms are Insitu, Hudson Technologies Co, Saronic Technologies, Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm and Oceaneering International.

The move comes after Washington announced last week a new round of military assistance worth $571.3 million, and approved $295 million worth of arms sales to the Taiwan region.

Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, said at a regular news briefing on Friday that the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, which was signed into law on Monday, also contains multiple negative provisions related to China.

These actions seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, severely interfere in China's internal affairs, and gravely undermine the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mao said.

She said that negative China-related provisions in the NDAA are full of Cold War mentality, zerosum thinking and ideological bias.

The provisions, which disregard facts to exaggerate the so-called "China threat" and clamor for US military support for Taiwan, aim to find excuses to increase Washington's military spending and preserve US hegemony, thus endangering regional peace and stability, she added.

"Seeking 'Taiwan independence' is bound to fail. What the US has done to assist the 'Taiwan independence' attempt by arming Taiwan will only backfire," Mao said, warning that Washington must not implement the negative China-related content of the NDAA.

Mao urged the US to immediately stop arming the island in any way, adding that the US should view China's development and bilateral ties in an objective and rational manner and cease with wrong words and deeds that harm China's interests.