Beijing to sanction 3 US military enterprises

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced its decision on Thursday to sanction three enterprises and 10 senior executives with the United States military industry, following Washington's recent announcement offering arms assistance to China's Taiwan region.

Last month, US President Joe Biden approved $567 million in defense support for Taiwan, including "defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training", according to a White House statement.

"This move seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, seriously interferes in China's internal affairs and seriously damages China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The three sanctioned US companies are Edge Autonomy Operations LLC, Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc and Skydio Inc.

China will freeze these companies' movable, immovable and other kinds of property in China, and "prohibits organizations and individuals in China from conducting relevant transactions, cooperation and other activities with them", the ministry said.

As for the 10 sanctioned senior executives, including Steven Roger Rudder, founder of Stick Rudder Enterprises, China will freeze their movable, immovable and other kinds of property within the country's territory.

In addition, the sanction prohibits organizations and individuals in China from engaging in transactions, cooperation and other activities with these individuals, and denies them visas and entry into China, including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region.

The sanctions are based on the provisions of the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China, and they come into effect from Thursday, the ministry said.