A view of Taipei Photo: IC

China has decided to sanction firms including Lockheed Martin, Boeing Defense, Raytheon as well as individuals and entities that are involved in arms sales to the island of Taiwan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a routine press conference on Monday that the sanctions were in response to recently approved US arms sales to Taiwan on October 21, which could have a total value of $1.81 billion.

The US State Department approved the sales to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US of 135 Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles and related equipment estimated to be worth more than $1 billion, 11 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems M142 Launchers and related equipment for an estimated $436.1 million and six MS-110 Recce Pods and related equipment for an estimated $367.2 million.