The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "China has decided to impose sanctions on 5 American military enterprises," revealing what information?

Overview of C4ISR Systems and Their Significance in Military Strategy

These five military enterprises are all related to C4ISR systems in some capacity.

On December 15 last year, the United States approved a military sale worth 300 million dollars to Taiwan. The purpose was to upgrade Taiwan’s Command, Control, Communications, and Computers capabilities, collectively known as 4C capabilities, which are a part of the C4ISR system.

C4ISR is a military term standing for Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance systems. It’s an acronym for the initial letters of these seven subsystems. The precursor to this was the Strategic Command and Control System formed in the United States in 1962.

Initially, to cope with nuclear warfare, the U.S. composed the early strategic C3I system. However, due to the lack of a dedicated management agency and uniform data formats, as well as difficulties in interconnectivity, it remained a loose coalition until the early 1970s. Later, through centralized management and planning, and the transformation of key devices like computers, standardization of data formats, and implementation of standardization, the system began operating efficiently. In the 1991 Gulf War, the U.S. employed this system, playing a vital role in the Gulf. However, it also revealed flaws like poor compatibility, interconnectivity, information sharing capabilities, and aging equipment. After the war, through massive updates and improvements, it evolved into the current C4ISR system.

C4ISR systems enhance command efficiency and act as force multipliers. The U.S. military first applied the C4ISR system on a large scale in actual combat during the Kosovo War, achieving excellent results. With the changing global military landscape, C4ISR systems have become increasingly vital and are now the nerve center of modern armies.

The importance of C4ISR lies in its critical role in information. In the era of informational warfare, C4ISR enhances situational awareness by collecting crucial data from numerous sensors and databases globally, converting data into information, securely sharing it among authorized users, assisting commanders in directing their forces, aiding authorities in making significant strategic decisions, and then converting information into action by ensuring that instructions from superiors are accurately and promptly delivered to the subordinate units for military operations.

In simpler terms, if an army is likened to a person, then C4ISR is the brain and spinal cord of this “person,” efficiently feeding information gathered by various organs such as eyes, ears, and nose back to the brain, and then transmitting commands from the brain to various organs to complete tasks.

While this might seem straightforward, it’s actually highly complex. In the U.S. strategic C4ISR system, there are over 40 communication systems, both general and specific, forming an intricate network connecting various command centers, early warning systems, combat troops, intelligence departments, etc., into a cohesive whole. In recent years, although China’s military strength has rapidly developed and equipment has continuously improved, the construction of C4ISR systems is still in the early stages.

Since taking office in 2021, the Biden administration has conducted twelve military sales to Taiwan. Despite the recent sale only amounting to 300 million dollars and lacking substantial hardware, it is aimed at assisting Taiwan in building its C4ISR system, with profoundly malicious intentions.

No matter if it’s useful or not, what matters is the attitude.

Since sharp confrontation between China and the United States is inevitable, we cannot simply allow the other side to dictate the terms. When it’s necessary, we must be brave enough to take the initiative.

The latest survey results from the American polling agency Gallup show that, under the influence of comprehensive anti-China propaganda in the United States, the favorability towards China among the American people, after “independent thinking,” is at 15%. So, there should be no more illusions.

Uniting to Counter

To strike, you must first divide and dissolve the radical elements in the United States, making them fight alone, turning the group advantage that the left takes pride in into individual struggles, and then it becomes an easy victory.

Churchill proudly told the British that the Anglo-Saxons never fight alone but rather achieve more with many. The enemies of England’s enemies are always more numerous than England’s enemies themselves, and this is the secret to England’s consistent victories.

Indeed, in the history of Britain’s dominance in Europe, they always united with other countries to defeat their opponents, such as wars against France and Germany, as well as colonial wars worldwide where Britain joined forces with numerous nations.

And today’s Britain, following the United States, seeks to join the Asian NATO and the Five Eyes alliance, following a similar pattern.

“I against my brother, my brother and I against my cousin, my cousin and I against the stranger.” - North African Bedouin proverb

As we both know, humans are social creatures, and the struggles in human society are never solitary battles. You must unite and act together with others, and your opponents will do the same.

So, who should the United States unite with?

One way is to unite with those familiar to you, with certain blood ties and social relationships, such as the Five Eyes alliance.

Another way is to unite with those of similar socio-economic status, such as developed countries in Europe and America.

Anglo-Saxons don’t fight alone, but they excel at forming alliances to drive collective action and gain maximum benefits from it.

Legal Basis for Countermeasures in China’s Foreign Relations

Recently, China passed the “Principled Provisions on Countermeasures in Foreign Relations” during a session of the National People’s Congress. With this law as guidance and protection, when other countries, entities, or individuals engage in extraterritorial jurisdiction, harm China’s core interests, or challenge our bottom line, we can take countermeasures confidently.

Following the release of this law, foreign media immediately asked:

Is Chinese diplomacy becoming more aggressive?

This question may seem somewhat absurd. Are we supposed to passively endure and accept Western “bullying” to be considered politically correct or to appease your preferences?

Especially recently, when the United States sold weapons to Taiwan and imposed unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals under various pretexts, why shouldn’t we proactively respond?

This time, we imposed sanctions on five U.S. defense companies: BAE Systems Land & Armaments, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., United Technologies Corporation, ViaSat, Inc., and Data Link Solutions, Inc.

These sanctions include freezing assets, real estate, and various types of properties within our jurisdiction (including Hong Kong and Macau) and prohibiting transactions, cooperation, and other activities by organizations and individuals within our territory.

These five companies will face significant losses.

In particular, United Technologies Corporation may not be immediately familiar to you, but it is closely related to Boeing and United Airlines.

In 1934, airline companies and aircraft equipment manufacturers merged and were deemed to have formed a monopoly by the U.S. government, leading to their separation. This separation resulted in today’s United Technologies Corporation, Boeing, and United Airlines.

United Technologies Corporation primarily provides high-tech products and services in the global aerospace and construction industries. Many of its subsidiaries have strong ties with China. For example:

1. Otis Elevator Company is the world’s largest manufacturer and service provider of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways. It has seven production bases in China under four different brands.

2. Pratt & Whitney is a leading designer, manufacturer, and service provider of aircraft engines. Pratt & Whitney has cooperative relationships with China’s aviation industry and operates five joint ventures in China with over 1,200 employees involved in manufacturing, engine overhauls, customer training, and sales.

3. United Technologies Aerospace Systems is the main system supplier for China’s Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) C919 jetliner, ARJ21 regional jet, and AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Turboprop Engine Company’s new-generation turboprop aircraft projects.

Then there’s ViaSat, Inc., an American satellite communication supplier currently collaborating with China Satcom Group Corporation Limited. ViaSat’s in-flight communication (IFC) equipment is used for mobile satellite network deployments.

Additionally, ViaSat has received a supplemental type certificate (STC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to install Ka-band satellite systems on Airbus A320 series aircraft, enabling full video streaming, web browsing, and instant messaging applications in-flight. In December 2022, Sichuan Airlines installed ViaSat’s in-flight internet technology and equipment on its A320 series aircraft, followed by the installation of Ka-band satellite internet systems on Boeing 737 series aircraft in China in January 2023. ViaSat currently holds three VSTC certificates that cover 75% of China’s civil aviation aircraft models.

After these sanctions, these five companies are bound to feel the impact.

In reality, our limited responses and countermeasures are a result of facing extreme pressure and severe provocations from other countries. We take such actions out of necessity. If further provoked, do not blame us for taking stronger measures.

Strong Support for Sanctions on 5 U.S. Companies

Let’s strongly support this move. In the past, these big and powerful countries have always imposed sanctions on us. This time, we’ll make them taste the bitter pill.

These 5 companies will no longer be able to do business with our companies, establish business relationships with our bosses, or find opportunities to profit in China. We’ll cut off their money-making avenues and squeeze them dry.

The targets of these sanctions are companies that provided C4ISR systems to Taiwan on the 15th of last month. This batch of orders was worth 300 million U.S. dollars and aimed to enhance Taiwan’s tactical information system capabilities.

In reality, it’s about getting Taiwan to pay for equipment and tying their armed forces to the chariots of the United States and Japan. The so-called maintenance of Taiwan’s 4C capabilities (Command, Control, Communications, and Computers) is essentially a way to confront the mainland.

So, let’s take a closer look at the 5 companies that are facing these sanctions:

1. BAE Systems Land and Armament: BAE’s main areas of operation include aircraft, military electronics, anti-submarine weapons (ASW), C4ISR systems, missiles, armament systems, space systems, and system integration. With an annual revenue exceeding 25 billion U.S. dollars and 81,000 employees, it is the largest arms dealer in the blue star. BAE has collaborated with the National University of Defense Technology to develop radar and has a research and development center in Guangdong Province.

2. Alliant Techsystems Operation: Mainly engaged in 30mm ammunition, including high-explosive incendiary tracer rounds, multi-purpose rounds, and training rounds. The main contractor is Alliant Techsystems Operations, which has a strong presence in artillery systems.

3. AeroVironment: This is a renowned drone manufacturer in the blue star, headquartered in Monrovia, California. They are famous for their “Windsong” portable drones, known for their low cost and light weight (less than 5 kg).

4. Viasat: A major satellite communication supplier, on par with SpaceX, and a primary supplier to NASA. Viasat collaborates with China Satcom Group Corporation Limited and has received certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for Ka-band satellite systems on Airbus A320 aircraft.

5. Data Link Solutions: Data Link Solutions and Viasat jointly developed tactical radio systems for the big and powerful. This line-of-sight radio system is primarily used for collecting and transmitting broadband, anti-jamming, secure data and voice signals across land, sea, and air platforms.

These sanctions include freezing the assets, real estate, and various types of properties of the aforementioned 5 companies in China. Additionally, any organization or individual within China is prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation, or other activities with them.

Onlookers are left wondering just how much assets these companies and their bosses have in China. It must be astronomical!

Full support, and next steps could involve confiscation and nationalization.

Sanctioned U.S. Defense Companies: An Overview

The 5 U.S. defense companies subject to sanctions are:

• BAE Systems Land and Armament
• Alliant Techsystems Operation
• AeroVironment
• Data Link Solutions
• ViaSat

Let’s take a closer look at the connections between these companies and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

BAE Systems Land and Armament

On August 4, 2021, the U.S. State Department approved an estimated $750 million arms sale to Taiwan, including 40 M109A6 155mm self-propelled howitzer systems, 20 M99A2 battlefield artillery ammunition support vehicles, 5 M88 support vehicles, and various support, maintenance, upgrade hardware, and services.

The contractor for this military equipment is BAE Land.

Alliant Techsystems Operation

Alliant Techsystems, also known as ATK, is another name you might be more familiar with in the Chinese-speaking world.

On June 29, 2023, the U.S. State Department approved an estimated $332.2 million arms sale to Taiwan, consisting of 30mm ammunition, including 30mm high-explosive incendiary tracer rounds, 30mm multi-purpose rounds, and 30mm training rounds.

The main contractors are:

• Alliant Techsystems (ATK) in Plymouth, Minnesota
• General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Simuni, Illinois
• Raytheon Missile and Defense in Tucson, Arizona

ATK is also deeply involved in the production of the AGM-88 “HARM” anti-radiation missile.

On March 1, 2023, the U.S. State Department approved an estimated $619 million arms sale to Taiwan, including F-16 aircraft munitions, which comprises 100 AGM-88 “HARM” anti-radiation missiles and 23 “HARM” training rounds.

AeroVironment

AeroVironment is a renowned U.S. drone manufacturer, with military products such as the “Switchblade” drone, which has been highly successful on the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield. Additionally, the widely used RQ-11 “Raven” and RQ-20 “Puma” small drones in the U.S. military inventory are also produced by this company.

While direct ties between the Taiwanese military and AeroVironment are not readily available, further information may be provided later.

Data Link Solutions

Data Link Solutions is the producer of the world’s most famous and widely used military data link, Link 16, which is extensively equipped on air, sea, and land platforms in the United States, Europe, and NATO countries.

Taiwan’s F-16s, Apache helicopters, C-130 Hercules, E-2 Hawkeyes, Mirage 2000s, and naval vessel Keelung are all equipped with Link 16.

ViaSat

ViaSat’s flagship product is the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS), which is a core component of the Link 16 data link. News of arms sales between ViaSat and Taiwan can also be found.

In addition to the aforementioned sanctioned companies, which other defense giants are involved in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan?

Since President Biden took office in 2021, up to January 7, 2024, the Biden administration has approved a total of 16 arms sales to Taiwan, totaling $4.7 billion.

The main contractors for these 16 arms sales include but are not limited to:

• Lockheed Martin (St. Louis, Missouri) [Sanctioned in September 2023]
• Lockheed Martin (Camden, Alaska)
• Lockheed Martin (Bethesda, Maryland)
• Alliant Techsystems (Plymouth, Minnesota) [Sanctioned in January 2024]
• General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (Simuni, Illinois)
• Raytheon Missile and Defense (Tucson, Arizona)
• Raytheon Technologies (Andover, Maryland)
• Northrop Grumman (West Falls Church, Virginia) [Sanctioned in September 2023]
• Oshkosh Corporation (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
• Boeing (St. Louis, Missouri)
• BAE Systems (Anniston, Alabama) [Sanctioned in January 2024]
• BAE Systems (Elgin, Oklahoma) [Sanctioned in January 2024]
• BAE Systems (York, Pennsylvania) [Sanctioned in January 2024]
• Anniston Army Depot (Bynum, Alabama)

The times have changed.

Thirty years ago, Hawk Sauce sold weapons to Taiwan, and Rabbit strongly protested.

Twenty years ago, Hawk Sauce sold weapons to Taiwan, and Rabbit strongly protested and considered countermeasures.

Ten years ago, Hawk Sauce sold weapons to Taiwan, and Rabbit opposed and implemented countermeasures.

Today, Hawk Sauce sells weapons to Taiwan, and Rabbit imposes direct sanctions on American companies selling weapons to Taiwan.

You have no qualification to talk to China from a position of strength.

Thirty years ago, I protested strongly, but thirty years later, I don’t even bother to look and just impose sanctions.

The times have changed.

All of this is empty talk; what was announced a few days ago about the ban on the export of rare earth technology is what matters.

Last year, the United States went to Vietnam in search of rare earth elements but failed; they went to Mongolia in search of rare earth elements but failed as well.

Strengthening Countermeasures

First

Continuing to enhance national defense capabilities with the aim of gaining the ability to sink or shoot down ships and aircraft transporting arms to Taiwan as soon as possible.

Second

Promoting equivalent arms sales, such as to countries like Russia, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Yemen, Iran, etc., actively supporting nations facing American military threats and coercion, and making the lighthouse a vast sea of resistance against oppression worldwide.

Third

Intensifying efforts to economically pressure Taiwan and strictly prohibiting unconditional support to weaken their capacity for purchasing arms and dampen Taiwan’s separatist ambitions. This also creates operational space for future governance after reunification with Taiwan.

Harmless in damage, extremely insulting!

Americans still don’t understand the significance of Anchorage meeting’s statement: “The United States is not qualified to negotiate with China from a position of strength.”

That’s why Blinken came to China without a red carpet, and his tough stance didn’t shake anyone.

Blinken is the least authoritative Secretary of State in American history, essentially reflecting the continuous erosion of the imperial hegemony behind the United States.

In China, if there is no trade, what can be done?

Rare earths, rare earths, rare earths. If there had been an initial “kill a thousand enemies, lose eight hundred” attitude, I don’t believe the ugly country would dare to act as recklessly as it does now. But the opportunity has been missed.

To put it simply, from the current situation of defending against American attacks, these sanctions do not have much substantive impact. These companies themselves have almost no business with China, and even if there is some amount, any potential fines during the tense period between China and the United States will be waived, with no real losses. Only when the tide turns against them, I dare not make any reckless moves, even without sanctions.

The Impact of Rare Earths on U.S. Sanctions

How can anyone say that this won’t have a significant impact on U.S. sanctions?

Rare earths are ubiquitous in advanced American weaponry, including missiles, radar systems, sonar devices, and other high-tech equipment that rely on permanent magnets and other rare earth components. The vast majority of these rare earths come from China. For instance, it is estimated that manufacturing an F-35 fighter jet requires 400 kilograms of rare earths, 600 kilograms of titanium, and 300 kilograms of antimony.

The Patriot missile benefits from an outstanding precision guidance system, which uses approximately 4 kilograms of samarium cobalt magnets, with samarium, neodymium, and cobalt being rare earth elements.

M1A1 tanks are equipped with neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet laser rangefinders, and night vision devices also require rare earth elements like neodymium, scandium, and samarium.

Rare earth permanent magnets are used in electric motors, and even Tesla’s electric vehicles rely on them.

Furthermore, the application of permanent magnets is extensive in other military fields, such as vehicle and naval starter motors, aircraft fuel pumps, and hydraulic pumps on aircraft carriers.

Currently, China possesses over 90% of the world’s production capacity for permanent magnets and 85% of processing capabilities.

As early as 2014, two subcontractors for the F-35 fighter jet—Northrop Grumman and Honeywell International—were found to be using Chinese-made rare earth permanent magnets in the aircraft’s radar systems, landing gear, and other hardware, causing controversy in the United States.

However, documents released by the U.S. Department of Defense in January of that year indicated that the two companies had received exemptions from the Deputy Secretary of Defense, who was responsible for procurement, technology, and logistics at the time.

Lockheed Martin, the company responsible for the F-35 program, responded that the issue raised by the Pentagon was related to the turbofan engine manufactured by U.S. subcontractor Honeywell International, as the “problematic permanent magnets” were made in China.

The company’s spokesperson, Laura Siebert, stated that the Chinese magnets already delivered on F-35s would not be replaced, as the Pentagon had confirmed that these Chinese magnets do not compromise safe flight and do not endanger sensitive information.

Currently, the company is working with partners and the Department of Defense to “obtain possible national security exemptions” in order to address the issue and resume deliveries as soon as possible.

I hereby declare that any extraterrestrial who does not register their residence with the local public security department by February 1st will be considered a spy attempting to steal state secrets. Those with serious offenses will be sentenced to three years or more of imprisonment, up to the death penalty.

I declare that since ancient times, Mars has been an integral part of China’s territory and is inseparable. Before Musk lands, he must register with the Ministry of Land and Resources and the Bureau of Organizational Affairs, and the specific residential area will be determined based on administrative levels. Designated as a ministerial-level position, with a standard size of 220 square meters, any unauthorized construction beyond this limit is strictly prohibited.

Am I talking nonsense? If so, then I’m spot on.