China said Friday it has decided to impose sanctions on U.S. defense firms Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. over their arms sales to Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island Beijing views as its own
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the sanctions are based on the Asian country's anti-foreign sanctions law but did not elaborate on the measures. China has imposed similar sanctions on defense companies in the past.
The Chinese government "never wavers in its resolve of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Mao said, adding Beijing calls on Washington to "stop military collusion with Taiwan and stop arming Taiwan."
Otherwise, the United States will face China's "resolute response," she warned.
Even though the United States does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, as it switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, it is one of the island's most important arms suppliers and trade partners.
