China set to impose sanctions against five US companies over arms supplies to Taiwan

China is set to impose retaliatory sanctions on five American companies over the reported US arms transfers to Taiwan as well as Washington's restrictions regarding Chinese enterprises and individuals, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on January 7.

"The US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region in blatant violation of the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communique," the statement reads, according to TASS.

"In response to these gravely wrong actions taken by the US and following China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, China has decided to sanction five US defence industry companies, namely BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat and Data Link Solutions," according to the ministry.

The countermeasures consist of freezing the properties of those companies in China, including their movable and immovable property, and prohibiting organizations and individuals in China from transactions and cooperation with them," the Chinese Foreign Ministry reads.

"We urge the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, observe international law and the basic norms governing international relations, stop arming Taiwan, and stop targeting China with illegal unilateral sanctions. Otherwise, there will be a strong and resolute response from China," the spokesperson added.