China to sanction U.S. firms involved in Taiwan arms sale

China's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that China will impose sanctions on firms in the United States that sell weapons to Taiwan.

This September 1, 2015 file photo shows a U.S. M1A2 Abrams tank. M1A2 Abrams tanks are included in the possible U.S. arms sale to Taiwan. [Photo: IC]

Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, made the announcement at a regular media briefing in response to a question about the plan by the United States to sell weapons to Taiwan, including tanks worth 2 billion U.S. dollars.

Calling Washington's move a violation of international law and the norms governing international relations, Geng said the arms sale runs counter to the One-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques. He said the sale impaires China's national sovereignty and security.

Geng Shuang, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

Regarding the two-day stopover in the United States by Taiwan's leader Tsai Ing-wen, Geng stressed that China has made its position clear many times and that it had lodged stern representations with the United States regarding the trip.

"We urge the United States not to allow the Taiwan leader to transit, in order to refrain from sending any wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' force", Geng added.

(Story includes material sourced from CGTN.)