China escalates trade war with sanctions on U.S. defense companies

The sanctions target prominent American defence corporations such as Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Javelin Joint Venture, Raytheon Systems, General Dynamics Armament and Tactical Systems, among others. The Chinese government has declared it will freeze its assets within China, impacting both movable and immovable property.

Flashpoints such as Taiwan and the South China Sea must be monitored closely through the decade's end. With the world fracturing into a multipolar state, conflict risk is elevated.

Last month, US Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, warned the timeline for Chinese President Xi Jinping to invade Taiwan is by 2027.