The US recently approved $571.3 million in defence support for Taiwan after clearing arms sales worth an estimated $385 million.
China imposed sanctions on seven companies on Friday after the recent US announcements of military sales and aid to Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as part of its territory.
The move also comes as the US government has recently approved its annual defence spending bill, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said includes “multiple negative sections on China.” The US is the main supplier of weapons to Taiwan for its defence.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has never renounced the threat of using force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan, however, strongly opposes China’s sovereignty claim and insists that only its people can decide their fate.
The US is legally obliged to supply Taiwan with the weapons it needs to defend itself, even though there are no formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei. Mao Ning said China demands that the US respect the one-China principle and cease arms supplies to Taiwan, adding that Beijing will “take all necessary measures” to protect its security and interests.
