China sanctions 2 U.S. companies over ‘support for arms sales to Taiwan’

China has sanctioned two US companies for supporting arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory that can be reclaimed by force if necessary

BEIJING — China on Thursday announced sanctions against two U.S. companies over their support for arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory that can be reclaimed by force if necessary.

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

It was not immediately clear what assets, if any, the companies have in China, which remains heavily dependent on foreign aerospace technology even as it tries to build its own presence in the field.