China sanctions two US firms over ‘support for arms sales to Taiwan’

General Atomics produces the Predator drone used by the US military (Michael Sohn/AP)

China has announced sanctions against two US defence companies over what it says is their support for arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy Beijing claims as its own territory to be recovered by force if necessary.

The announcement freezes the assets of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems held within China. The measure also bars the companies’ management from entering the country.