Beijing will impose sanction on US enterprises involved in a $2.22 billion arms sale to Taiwan, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman announced Friday.

File photo: VCG

The spokesman’s announcement confirmed previous reports saying that China will punish US enterprises for their participation in a possible arms deal to the island. 

Slamming the sale as a serous violation of international law and norms, Geng Shuang, spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said the move is meant to defend national interests. 

The US State Department on Monday notified Congress that it had approved a Taiwan arms sale plan, including Abrams tanks and Stinger missiles, sparking strong protests from China.

Chinese officials from authorities in charge of foreign affairs, defense and Taiwan affairs had urged the US to drop the sale immediately. The US lawmakers have to determine whether to authorize the sale within 60 days.