China has long claimed that Taiwan is a part of its territory, and it strongly opposes any arms sales to Taiwan by foreign governments or companies. In July 2021, China announced sanctions against U.S. defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon for their involvement in a recent arms deal with Taiwan.The specific arms deal in question involves the sale of 90 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles, which are designed to intercept incoming missiles and aircraft, and related equipment to Taiwan. The sale was approved by the U.S. government in 2019, and the missiles were delivered to Taiwan in late 2020 and early 2021. China penalises Lockheed Martin
China's sanctions against Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are intended to send a message to the U.S. government that it is not acceptable to sell weapons to Taiwan, which China sees as a renegade province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland. The sanctions include restrictions on the companies' business activities in China, including the prohibition of any transactions with Chinese entities, as well as visa restrictions on certain employees of the companies. China penalises Lockheed Martin
The U.S. government has criticized China's sanctions as "unproductive and cynical," and has vowed to continue its support for Taiwan's defense. The U.S. sees Taiwan as a key ally in the Asia-Pacific region, and it has been selling weapons to Taiwan for decades as part of its commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.