US defence giant Honeywell distances itself from Taiwan under threat of China sanctions over arms deal
- Firm sees ‘no reason why’ it would be sanctioned by Beijing after being linked to the self-ruled island arms deal by Chinese state media
- People’s Daily and CCTV posted a WeChat article on Sunday also naming Oshkosh Corporation, General Dynamics and Gulfstream Aerospace as suppliers
After China’s state media named several US firms allegedly threatened by sanctions over arms sales to Taiwan, American aerospace and defence giant Honeywell has said it had “no input” into the agreement between Washington and Taipei.
Both People’s Daily and state broadcaster CCTV posted an article on their official WeChat channels on Sunday criticising Honeywell, Oshkosh Corporation, General Dynamics and its subsidiary Gulfstream Aerospace for their involvement in the sale of tanks and missiles to Taiwan.
“The US arms sale is ‘penny wise, pound-foolish’. They sell weapons to Taiwan but lose their market in China, and their non-military products will be boycotted in China too,” the article read.
“Do not ever underestimate the firm will of the Chinese government and its people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity! Do not underestimate China's strength as the world's second-largest economy,” the article warned.
In a statement sent to the South China Morning Post, Honeywell said it sees “no reason why Honeywell would be potentially sanctioned by the Chinese government” as the company is a “component provider and [does] not decide where the products are used. This was a government-to-government sale, initiated by the United States government. Honeywell has no input into these agreements and has had no direct dealings with Taiwan.”
Last week, despite strong opposition from Beijing, the US State Department approved a US$2.2 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which includes 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks, 250 Stinger missiles, and 16 M1070A1 heavy equipment transporters.