China has imposed sanctions on nine US defence firms over sales of military equipment to Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing announced the measures on Wednesday. The move comes as China continues to raise the pressure on Taiwan and demands that Washington end support for its declarations of independence.

China has sanctioned nine US military-linked firms for selling arms to Taiwan, asserting it breaches the one-China principle. The sanctions include freezing property within China and banning transactions with these companies.

China has announced sanctions on American companies selling arms to the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory and threatens to annex by force