China threatens sanctions against US firms selling arms to Taiwan

China on Friday warned the US that it would impose sanctions on American companies planning to go ahead with a potential USD 2.2 billion arms deal with self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing views as its inalienable part that has to be reunified with the mainland, even by force.

China also asked the US not to allow Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to "transit" through America. Tsai is currently in New York on a two-day stopover, ahead of her visit to diplomatic allies in the Caribbean.

"In order to safeguard national interests, China will impose sanctions on US companies taking part in a USD 2.2 billion sale of military equipment to Taiwan," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement here.

The US arms sale infringes on China's sovereignty and national security, he said.

The sale also seriously violates the basic norms of the international law and the international relations, as well as the One-China principle and three China-US joint communiques, Geng said.

The 'One-China' policy states that Taiwan and Tibet are part of China's mainland. China made the 'One-China' policy a prerequisite for countries to establish diplomatic ties with it.

The Pentagon has notified the US Congress that it is likely to make an USD 2.2 billion arms deal with Taiwan to provide tanks, anti-aircraft missiles and related equipment.

Most of the countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent nation. Though the US had switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, it remains the self-ruled island's most powerful unofficial ally and the biggest arms supplier.

Earlier on July 9 also, China asked the US to cancel any planned arms sale to Taiwan and accused Washington of interfering in the country's domestic affairs.

The Chinese foreign ministry has already lodged a formal complaint through "diplomatic channels" to the US opposing the potential arms deal with Taiwan.