China sanctions US firms over arms sales to Taiwan
Beijing said on Sunday it was imposing sanctions on five American defence companies in response to US arms sales to Taiwan and sanctions on Chinese companies. The US government recently announced that it was selling US$300 million worth of arms to Taiwan and sanctioning Chinese companies and individuals for supporting Moscow in the Russia-Ukraine war.  A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Beijing "strongly deplores and firmly opposes" Washington's moves, which blatantly violated the one-China principle, seriously harmed its sovereignty and security interests, undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and infringed the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals. In response, the spokesman said Beijing had decided to sanction five American defence companies, namely BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat and Data Link Solutions. Their assets in China will be frozen and organisations and individuals in China will be banned from working with them. The spokesman urged the US to "stop arming Taiwan and stop targeting China with illegal unilateral sanctions" or there would be a "strong and resolute response" from China.