The sanctions entail freezing the companies’ assets in China and banning individuals and organizations from dealing with them, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

China's foreign ministry announced sanctions on Friday targeting 10 individuals and 20 U.S. defence firms, including Boeing's St. Louis branch, over arms sales to Taiwan.

Senior Col. Shi Yi, spokesperson of the Eastern Theater Command, said the drills were a “stern warning against ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and external interference forces” and described the military action as a “necessary” move to protect China’s "sovereignty and national unity.”

China on Friday announced sanctions against U.S. companies in the arms industry after the United States revealed arms sales to Taiwan.

Beijing responded to the Trump administration’s approval of a large weapons package for Taipei with restrictions on firms and executives.

China announced largely symbolic sanctions against 20 US defense companies and 10 executives, signaling its anger over Washington’s latest arms sales to Taiwan while stopping short of a broader escalation.

China on December 27 announced sanctions on 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 senior executives, including Palmer Luckey of Anduril Industries, following the Trump administration’s approval of an $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan.

BEIJING: China's foreign ministry announced sanctions on Friday (Dec 26) targeting 10 ⁠individuals and 20 United States defence firms, including Boeing's St Louis branch, over arms sales to Taiwan.The

China has announced sanctions against US companies and individuals in response to Washington's announcement of massive arms sales to Taiwan.

Beijing has imposed countermeasures against United States military-related companies and senior executives in retaliation for what it described as a large-scale arms sale by Washington to China’s Taiwan region, escalating tensions between the world’s two largest economies over one of the most sensitive issues in their bilateral relations.

Taiwan stayed on high ‌alert ​on Wednesday after China staged massive ‌military drills around the island the previous day, keeping its emergency maritime ​response centre running, the head of the island's coast guard said.