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The measures come amid heightened tensions after the U.S.
military shot down what it says was a Chinese spy balloon, and a
day after Beijing warned of "countermeasures against relevant
U.S. entities that undermine China's sovereignty and security".
Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missile and Defense Corporation, a
subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, are prohibited from
"engaging in import and export activities related to China", the
commerce ministry said in a statement.
Beijing also banned the firms from further investment in China,
barred senior management from entering the country, canceled
residence permits for any staff in China and imposed fines that
are double the contracted amounts of their arms sales to Taiwan.
It is not clear how China would enforce such fines, which it
said must be paid within 15 days.
Last February, China sanctioned the two firms over a $100
million arms sale to Taiwan, a self-ruled island which Beijing
views as a breakaway province.
On at least two previous occasions China has announced sanctions
against Lockheed and Raytheon, in 2019 and 2020, though Beijing
has not explained what those sanctions entailed or how they were
enforced.
The United States does not sell weapons to China. However, the
United States is bound by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to
provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and U.S. weapons
sales always attract China's anger.
(Reporting by Tony Munroe, Laurie ChenEditing by Raissa
Kasolowsky)
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