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China Sanctions US Companies
China has taken action against three U.S. defense companies by placing them on its list of “unreliable companies” for selling weapons to Taiwan.
The Ministry of Commerce in China made this announcement on Monday.
The companies affected by these sanctions are Boeing Defense, Space & Security, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and General Dynamics Land Systems.
The purpose of these sanctions is to penalize the United States for supplying weapons to Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
According to the ministry, these sanctioned companies will be prohibited from making further investments in China, and their managers will be banned from travelling to the country.
The announcement of the sanctions coincided with the inauguration of Lai Ching-te, the new president of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
This is the latest in a series of sanctions imposed by China on U.S. defense companies for their arms sales to Taiwan.
In September 2023, China had already sanctioned Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, and in January, five more companies were added to the list.
The tensions between Washington and Beijing have been high for some time, with the U.S. also imposing sanctions on Chinese companies.
The Biden administration justifies its decision to provide arms to Taiwan by citing China’s increasing pressure on the island, including heightened military activities in the air and at sea.
China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened invasion on multiple occasions.
However, Taiwan maintains a strong sense of independence, and President Lai has shown no intention of deviating from this stance.
Another explosion occurred at a pipeline manifold in the Omwawriwa area of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Tuesday.
This incident follows a similar explosion that shook the Trans Niger Pipeline, operated by Shell, in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area just hours earlier.
The latest explosion reportedly took place at a manifold connected to a federal pipeline deep within the forest, which transports crude oil to Brass in Bayelsa State.
While the explosion has not yet been officially confirmed, community sources reported seeing massive flames and thick smoke rising from the oil installation in the forest.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, stated that she would investigate the incident but had not provided a response at the time of this report.
A video obtained by our correspondent displays a large fire burning in a remote location.
In a separate development, Ijaw youths blocked the Ahoada section of the East-West Road leading to Bayelsa State on Tuesday in protest.
The demonstrators, numbering over 100, carried placards in solidarity with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid his political dispute with the state House of Assembly. Some of the placards read: “We demand Wike’s dismissal as FCT Minister” and “Martin Amaewhule and 26 lawmakers have defected and lost their seats.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the four tax reform bills transmitted to the National Assembly in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that the House had on Thursday last week, considered and approved the report of the House Committee on Finance which made some recommendations, particularly in controversial areas such as the Value Added Tax and inheritance tax.
While awaiting the Senate to similarly pass the bills, the proposed reforms are expected to be transmitted to the President for his assent in the days ahead.
Details shortly…
Two members of the house of representatives have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, announced the defections in a letter read on the floor of the lower legislative chamber on Tuesday.
More to follow…