China sanctions on U.S. defense firms have recently intensified tensions between Washington and Beijing. The Chinese government has imposed these sanctions in response to the U.S. State Department’s approval of a $228 million arms deal to Taiwan.

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.

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.