China Sanctions EU Defence Firms Over Taiwan Arms Sales

Measure taken for the first time China sanctions European Defence Companies over Dealings related to Taiwan

2026-04-27 From Veronika Maucher 1 min Reading Time

China's Commerce Ministry said it was banning exports of dual-use items to seven European entities over arms sales to Taiwan, placing them immediately on its export control list, in a rare case of Europe-targeted, Taiwan-related sanctions. Several media reported.

For the first time, China has imposed sanctions on European defence manufacturers over their dealings with Taiwan.(Picture: AI generated, ChatGPT) — For the first time, China has imposed sanctions on European defence manufacturers over their dealings with Taiwan.
(Picture: AI generated, ChatGPT)

This development is likely to give pause to companies that may be interested in the Taiwanese market. Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, gets most of its weapons from the U.S. Europe has not sold any big-ticket items like fighter jets to Taipei for some three decades, fearful of raising the ire of Beijing.

Hensoldt and FN Browning are affected

The entities, including German defence electronics firm Hensoldt AG and Belgian-based defence and firearms manufacturer FN Herstal and FN Browning, have participated in arms sales to Taiwan or "colluded with Taiwan", a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from Taiwan's government, the EU, Hensoldt or FN Browning. Four of the seven listed companies are from Czech Republic, including the defence firms Excalibur Army and Omnipol.

China has officially informed the European Union

These dual-use goods include items, software or technologies that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, among them certain rare earth elements used in the production of drones and semiconductors. The ministry also said foreign organisations and individuals are prohibited from transferring or providing dual-use items originating from China to the seven entities and any related activities must be stopped immediately.China informed the European Union about the situation through the bilateral export control dialogue mechanism before the announcement, according to the ministry.

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