TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China has hit seven companies and their senior executives for providing Taiwan with military aid, Reuters reported Friday.

The ban is expected to mean a trade and collaboration ban for these companies. In addition, China will freeze the companies’ assets in the country.

The companies are:

1. Insitu Inc.
2. Hudson Technologies Co.
3. Saronic Technologies, Inc.
4. Raytheon Canada
5. Raytheon Australia
6. Aerkomm Inc.
7. Oceaneering International Inc.

China’s foreign ministry was quoted as saying the US decision to sell arms to Taiwan "seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The move is also in retaliation for similar US sanctions on Chinese companies, including bans on two Chinese drone firms in October.

Earlier this month, the US announced US$571.3 million (NT$18.64 billion) in military weapons and training for Taiwan. This was in addition to a US$265 million sale of command, control, communications, and computers (C4) equipment to Taiwan. 

Meanwhile, AP reported that Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang (張曉剛), a Chinese defense ministry spokesperson, claimed the US is hyping the China threat to justify increased military spending.

“US military spending has topped the world and keeps increasing every year,” he said. “This fully exposes the belligerent nature of the US and its obsession with hegemony and expansion.”