Beijing: China has announced sanctions against major US defence companies, including Boeing, in retaliation for a large American arms sale to Taiwan approved by President Donald Trump.
China’s foreign ministry said the measures target 10 individuals and 20 US companies, including Boeing’s production hub in St Louis, Missouri. Any assets held by the sanctioned firms and individuals in China will be frozen, and Chinese organisations and citizens are barred from doing business with them.
The move follows Washington’s approval last week of an arms package for Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion, the largest weapons sale in the history of US-Taiwan relations. The package includes medium-range missiles and drones.
Beijing has long viewed Taiwan as one of its most sensitive political issues, insisting the island must ultimately reunify with the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan, which is democratically governed, strongly rejects that claim. The dispute has been a persistent source of tension between China and the United States, already strained by trade and tariff disputes.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s Remarks on Countermeasures Against U.S. Arms Sales to China’s Taiwan Regionhttps://t.co/m5qD5d0CZ3 pic.twitter.com/5XKflW3Thb
— CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) December 26, 2025
China said individuals placed under sanctions, including the founder of defence firm Anduril Industries and nine senior executives from the targeted companies, are banned from entering the country.
Boeing manufactures fighter jets in St Louis, where more than 3,000 union workers staged a strike over pay earlier this year. Other companies named in the sanctions include Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation and L3Harris Maritime Services.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the Taiwan issue lies at the core of China’s national interests and represents a red line in relations with Washington, warning that any actions seen as provocative would draw a firm response. The spokesperson urged the United States to halt what China described as dangerous efforts to arm the island. Under US law, Washington is required to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though such arms sales regularly provoke strong objections from Beijing.
关于对美国军工相关企业及高级管理人员采取反制措施的决定https://t.co/rWkeCnpuDj
Decision on Taking Countermeasures Against U.S. Military-Related Companies and Senior Executiveshttps://t.co/UvnZxRhPk3 pic.twitter.com/NS4YqyWLHg
— CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) December 26, 2025
The arms package includes eight separate agreements covering 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as Atacms. These missiles are similar to those supplied to Ukraine by the Biden administration to counter Russia’s invasion.
At the time of the sale, the US State Department said the deal supported American national and security interests by helping Taiwan modernise its armed forces and maintain a credible defensive capability. Officials said the sale would contribute to regional stability by preserving the military balance and supporting long-term economic progress.
