China Sanctions US Firms Selling Arms to Taiwan 中擬制裁軍售公司 學者:不影響台美軍售

China has placed Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies under sanctions, for the the third time, as a countermeasure against the two American companies' $100-million arms sale to Taiwan.  China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said  the move undermined China's security interests, China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Straitat. Scholars say the sanctions won't affect US arms sales to Taiwan.

The US continues to sell arms to Taiwan for self-defense purposes. It recently announced a new deal worth US$100 million, which was denounced by China. It said it will take countermeasures against participating companies Raytheon Technology Corporation and Lockheed Martin in accordance with its anti-foreign sanctions law.

Wang Wenbin (Feb. 21, 2022), Spokesperson, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “The Chinese government has decided to take countermeasures against the infringing acts of Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin. Both are military enterprises that have long participated in US arms sales to China's Taiwan region.”

Joanne Ou, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “The defensive weapons that the US supplies to us help to uphold Taiwan's freedom and democratic system and guarantee our safety and the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. ”

Under China's anti-foreign sanctions law, it can cancel visas and freeze company assets located in China. The two military enterprises are major suppliers of Taiwan's military. Lockheed Martin upgraded Taiwan's F-16s and also retrofitted them to F-16Vs. It supplied PAC-3 missiles and red zone elements for indigenous submarines. Meanwhile, fighter missiles, a long-range early warning radar system at Leshan Base, Stinger missiles, and TOW missiles were all manufactured by Raytheon.

Su Tzu-yun, Director, Div. of Defense Strategy & Resources, INDSR: “There won't be any impact on US arms sales to Taiwan, because the military branches of these companies don't have any trade dealings with China. The US also prohibits these companies from selling equipment to China. That's why this is just a nominal sanction.”

Taiwan will launch a new reservist training system in March. Reservists will be called up to participate in infantry operations and relearn how to use rifles and mortars. There are reports that the US National Guard will send personnel to visit Taiwan this year, and they will be observing this new system.
 

Shih Shun-wen, Spokesperson, Ministry of National Defense: “We are still making plans, and the Ministry of National Defense will be following developments closely.”

The Ministry of National Defense did not deny that the two sides are setting up an exchange system. Scholars say the US National Guard can share combat experience with Taiwan and teach tactics and fighting skills, thereby strengthening the leadership abilities of officers and improving the mental strength of soldiers.

中國不曾停止威嚇台灣，美國持續對台軍售，維持自我防衛能力。日前對台軍售總額1億美元的武器計畫，踩到中國紅線，中國表達反對和譴責，並首度根據反外國制裁法，宣布對參與軍售的雷神技術公司和洛克希德馬丁公司，實施反制，能註銷簽證、扣押凍結企業在中國境內財產。

中國外交部發言人汪文斌說：「中國政府決定，對長期參與美國向中國台灣地區出售武器的美國軍工企業，雷神技術公司和洛克希德·馬丁公司的侵權行為實施反制。」

外交部發言人歐江安回應：「美國所提供給我方的一個防禦性武器，是有助於捍衛台灣自由跟民主制度，來確保我國國家的安全，以及印太區域的和平跟穩定。」

美國兩大軍工企業打造國軍的主力裝備，包括新購的F-16V，以及F-16性能提升、愛國者三型飛彈、前潛艦國造的戰系，都是出自洛克希德馬丁公司。至於空軍戰機裝載飛彈以及樂山基地的長程預警雷達，刺針飛彈、拖式飛彈，則是雷神公司產製。

國防安全研究院軍事戰略暨產業所長蘇紫雲認為：「對於就是美台之間軍售不會有任何影響，因為這些公司它的軍事部門，原本就跟中國沒有貿易的往來。美國也禁止這些軍火公司，就是出售裝備給中國，所以它只是一個名義上的宣示。」

台美軍事合作不受中國打壓，交流反而更密切。我方3月將實施新制教召，後備軍人將參與步兵營運作，活用步槍、迫砲，傳出美國國民兵今年將派員訪台，而新制教召將是觀摩重點。

國防部發言人史順文說：「目前這個案子我們還在研議階段，國防部會持續密切關注。」

國防部沒有否認雙方要建立交流機制，學者分析，美國國民兵來台不只可以分享實戰經驗、傳授戰術戰鬥技巧、強化幹部領導統御能力，還有助後備軍人調適心理，在社會跟部隊取得平衡，至關重要。