KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN - JANUARY 11: Taiwan's armed forces hold two days of routine drills to show combat readiness ahead of Lunar New Year holidays at a military base on January 11, 2023 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The self-ruled island of Taiwan continues to hold defensive drills, as tensions remain high in the Taiwan straits. (Photo by Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)
Taiwan's armed forces hold two days of routine drills to show combat readiness at a military base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on January 11, 2023.
Annabelle Chih/Getty Images/File

Beijing — China?will sanction five US military manufacturers in response to the latest round of American arms sales to?Taiwan, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.

US arms sales to?Taiwan?are a frequent source of tension between Washington and Beijing.?China?views democratically governed?Taiwan?as its territory, a claim?Taiwan’s government rejects.

The sanctions come ahead of?Taiwan’s January 13 presidential and parliamentary elections, which?China?has cast as a choice between war and peace.

The US State Department last month approved a $300 million sale of equipment to help maintain?Taiwan’s tactical information systems.

The spokesperson said?in a statement?the recent arms sales “seriously undermine?China’s sovereignty and security interests, seriously jeopardize peace and stability in the?Taiwan?Strait.”

The?companies?to be?sanctioned?are BAE Systems Land and Armaments, Alliant Techsystems Operations, AeroVironment, Viasat and Data Link Solutions.

China?will freeze the assets of these?companies?and ban people or organizations in?China?from engaging them, the spokesperson said.

The US embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.