Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The Chinese government will sanction Lockheed Martin and the Missile and Defense subsidiary of Raytheon by adding them to the government's "unreliable entities" list, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Thursday.
The Ministry of Commerce said the move was made "in order to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, in accordance with the 'Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China,' 'National Security Law of the People's Republic of China,' and other relevant laws."
The Ministry said it "decided to include Lockheed Martin Corporation and Raytheon Missiles and Defense, involved in arms sales to Taiwan into the list of unreliable entities."
According to the press release the companies "are prohibited from engaging in import and export activities related to China."
The move comes amidst a diplomatic row caused by a Chinese surveillance balloon that overflew the United States before being shot down on Feb. 4 off the coast of South Carolina.
The incident caused U.S. Secretary of State State Antony Blinken to delay a diplomatic visit to China.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce sanctioned five Chinese companies and one research institute, in response to the balloon incident.
The Chinese government maintains the position that the balloon was a civilian device.
Read More
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- U.S. denies sending balloons to China, forms interagency group to study flying objects
- Pentagon says recovery efforts underway to find high-altitude object shot down over Alaska
- U.S. House condemns China over balloon incident while Senate grills U.S. officials
