China imposes countermeasures against U.S. companies, executives

China has decided to impose countermeasures against 13 U.S. military companies and six senior corporate executives, starting December 5, over the sale of arms to the Taiwan region, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

The U.S. recently announced arms sales to China's Taiwan region, which seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, severely interferes in China's internal affairs, and seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Elaborating on the countermeasures, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests. 

Pursuant to its anti-foreign sanctions law, China decided to take countermeasures against the U.S. military companies and senior executives, he pointed out.

"Taiwan secessionists" and peace in the Taiwan Straits are as irreconcilable as fire and water, Lin said.

He noted that the U.S.'s intention to help advance the "Taiwan secessionists'" agenda by arming Taiwan will not shake China's firm determination to oppose the "Taiwan secessionists'" agenda and achieve national reunification and will only push Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and conflict.

The spokesperson again urged the U.S. to earnestly adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, especially the provisions of the August 17 communique of 1982.

He also said the U.S. should act on its leaders' commitment to not supporting the "Taiwan secessionists'" agenda and should stop arming Taiwan immediately.

(Cover: The Chinese foreign ministry building in Beijing, China. /CFP)