Taiwan's US-made F-16 fighter jet (Illustration photo: Reuters).
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on January 7 that the country will sanction five US military manufacturers in response to the companies' arms sales to Taiwan.
Although the United States has no formal relations with Taiwan, it is the island's top economic and military partner.
US arms sales to Taiwan have often been a source of tension between Washington and Beijing. China considers Taiwan an inalienable part of its territory that must be reunited at all costs, including the use of force.
The US State Department last month approved the sale of $300 million worth of equipment to help maintain Taiwan's tactical communications system.
Beijing accused the recent arms sale of “severely undermining China’s sovereignty and security interests, seriously endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”.
The companies blacklisted by China include BAE Systems Land & Armaments, Alliant Techsystems Operations, AeroVironment, Viasat and Data Link Solutions.
China will freeze the assets of these companies and prohibit Chinese people or organizations from cooperating with these entities, the spokesperson said.
The US has not commented on China's move.
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