China enraged by Trump’s decision, bans 20 defence companies and issues warning

Beijing (The Uttam Hindu): US-China tensions over Taiwan have escalated once again. China has retaliated by announcing sanctions against 20 US defense/military-related companies and 10 senior officials after the Trump administration approved a record ¥11.1 billion (approximately $11.1 billion) arms package for Taiwan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has warned that any attempt to provoke China on the Taiwan issue will be met with a firm response. The Foreign Ministry stated that Beijing has decided to take retaliatory measures against 20 US military-related firms and 10 senior officials involved in arming Taiwan in recent years. The Taiwan issue is at the core of China's core interests. This is the first red line that should not be crossed in China-US relations. China stated that anyone who attempts to cross this line and provoke on the Taiwan issue will face a firm response from China. Beijing called on the US to adhere to the one-China principle and stop dangerous moves to arm Taiwan, stop undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and stop sending the wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China stated that it will continue to take firm measures to firmly defend its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. The thing to note here is that this ban practice of China is just a formality because most of the American defense firms do not have any business operations in China.

It's worth noting that the US recently approved the sale of weapons worth more than $11.1 billion to Taiwan. This includes missiles, artillery, HIMARS launchers, and drones. This has angered China.