BEIJING: China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Thursday that it has added 10 U.S. companies to its unreliable entities list. The decision follows accusations that these companies have been involved in selling arms to Taiwan, a move Beijing sees as a direct challenge to its sovereignty.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the companies added to the blacklist include multiple divisions of Lockheed Martin, such as Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab. The Ministry of Commerce stated that these entities will face prohibitions on China-related import or export activities and will be barred from making new investments within China. Additionally, senior executives from these companies will be banned from entering China, and any applications for work permits, visitor or residency status will be denied.
The ministry emphasized that these companies have engaged in arms sales to Taiwan and have participated in military technology cooperation despite China’s opposition. The ministry accused these actions of severely undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, violating the one-China principle, and threatening peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It further stated that the companies would be held legally accountable for their actions.
While highlighting the targeted nature of these measures, the Ministry of Commerce reassured that the unreliable entity provisions aim at a select few foreign entities that threaten China’s national security. The Chinese government continues to welcome foreign investment and pledges to maintain a stable, fair, and predictable business environment for companies that comply with Chinese laws.
