China Sanctions Us Defense Firms Over Taiwan Arms Sales

China on Thursday sanctioned 13 U.S. defense firms over arms sales to the self-governing island nation of Taiwan.

The companies targeted by China are smaller defense tech firms that have worked on drones and other unmanned weapons systems, including ShieldAI, BRINC Drones and Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems.

In the sweeping action, China also targeted top officials at larger defense companies, including BAE Systems and Raytheon, along with executives at three of the smaller defense tech firms.

In a statement announcing the action, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan "seriously violates the one-China principle" and "undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The move comes just days after the U.S. announced a $385 million arms sale to Taiwan that included F-16 fighter jet parts.

China has sanctioned most of the leading U.S. defense companies over arms sales to Taiwan, including Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

The latest sanctions also come as Taiwanese President Willaim Lai Ching-te visited Hawaii over the weekend and stopped over to the U.S. territory of Guam on Wednesday for one night.

During the trip, Lai has chatted with top officials in Washington, including by phone with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Lai, who was inaugurated in May, has settled for the status quo with China but has also vowed to resist Chinese pressure, prompting Beijing to launch major drills and military exercises after his key speeches this year.

The U.S. has informal relations with Taiwan but commits to arming and supporting the island nation.