Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (C) watches a demonstration on the US-made Stinger air-defence system during a visit to inspect military troops in Taoyuan on May 23, 2024. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said he will "stand on the front line" to defend Taiwan, speaking on May 23 as China held war games around the self-ruled island days after he was sworn into office. (Photo : SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)
On Wednesday, China imposed another set of sanctions to US companies that sell arms supplies for allowing Taiwan to purchase jets and missiles.
Beijing has been claiming the self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and threatens that their purchase of arms from American companies will force them to annex themselves, per AP News.
While the Chinese state media did not give details on the list of companies involved, they are likely to cut their trade off and may label them persona non grata in China, as they have been previously doing.
Currently, AP News noted that Taiwan has indeed made the sale and awaits the Abrams tanks, missiles, F-16 fighter jets, and a fleet of submarines from the US. This came in line with Taiwan's impvement of their arms industry and 1-year extension of mandatory military service.
According to Al Jazeera, Taiwan has been getting their military weapons from the US and the latter happily providing to ensure their 'independence' although there is currently no formal diplomatic ties between two countries.
China, however, is seeing these purchases as threats, under their One China law.
Earlier this year, VCPost learned that Taiwan made a purchase from the US arms suppliers and China responded with each firm's assets being frozen in the country and persona non grata for any representative.
The said US companies have no response yet. As for Taiwan, equipping themselves with military weapons has only increased this year despite warnings from China. Another VCPost report shared that they sought funding from US as Chinese warplanes get closer to their island.