The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China announced sanctions against two US companies – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems.
The ministry stated that the continued US arms sales to Taiwan violate the “one-China” principle and the three China-US joint communiquуs.
The sanctions freeze all movable and immovable property and other assets of these companies within China.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is a well-known US defense company that produces remotely piloted aircraft.
One of its products is the MQ-9A Reaper. To date, this aircraft has been acquired by several countries, including the US Air Force, US Department of Homeland Security, NASA, Royal Air Force (UK), Italian Air Force, French Air Force, and Spanish Air Force.
The MQ-9 has an endurance of more than 27 hours, a speed of 240 knots, can operate up to 50,000 feet, and has a 746 kilogram payload capacity that includes 1361 kilograms of external stores.
