China announced on Friday that it has imposed a ban on several business units of American aerospace company Lockheed Martin Corp. and three of its executives due to arms deals signed with Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims as part of its territory.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Lockheed Martin's collaboration with Taiwan was a violation of China's sovereignty, a term commonly used by China when referring to any external support for the Taiwanese government.
The sanctions, which target Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, are largely seen as symbolic as military cooperation between the U.S. and China has been suspended since the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests in China.
China has been making strides in developing its domestic aircraft industry, with a focus on producing parts, planes, and services for Airbus, as well as manufacturing its own commercial jets. While foreign technology has played a significant role in this progress, Chinese companies have been working to reduce their reliance on overseas suppliers.
Meanwhile, Taiwan heavily depends on U.S. suppliers for arms, despite efforts to enhance its own defense capabilities and increase mandatory military service for men. This comes as China's threat to encircle or invade Taiwan continues to grow, driven by its ambition to annex the island, which was separated from mainland China following a civil war in 1949.
