BEIJING — The Chinese government placed sanctions on seven companies on Friday in response to recent US statements of military sales and aid to Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as part of its territory.The sanctions also came in response to the recent approval of the US government's annual defense spending bill, which a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said 'includes multiple negative sections on China.
US President Joe Biden last week authorized up to $571 million in Defense Department material and services and military education and training for Taiwan.Separately, the Defense Department announced that $295 million in military sales had been approved.The US defense bill boosts military spending to $895 billion and directs resources toward a more confrontational approach to China.