China has placed two US companies on the "unreliable entities list": Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies. Their fault is that of supplying arms to Taiwan, the island which Beijing defines as "rebel" and which it aims to bring back under the control of the Dragon even with the use of force.

For this reason, China has banned these two US companies from importing components produced in China and from exporting products to Beijing. This decision comes amid rising tensions sparked by the shooting down of an alleged Chinese spy balloon by the US military.

China's commerce ministry said in a statement that Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missile and Defense are prohibited from "engaging in import and export business related to China". The civil aeronautical sector is affected. Indeed, Raytheon Technologies sells Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines, landing gear and components to the Chinese aviation industry.