BEIJING, January 7. /TASS/. China is set to impose retaliatory sanctions on five American companies over the reported US arms transfers to Taiwan as well as Washington's restrictions regarding Chinese enterprises and individuals, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

"The US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region in blatant violation of the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques," the statement reads.

"In response to these gravely wrong actions taken by the US and in accordance with China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, China has decided to sanction five US defense industry companies, namely BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat and Data Link Solutions," according to the ministry.

The countermeasures consist of freezing the properties of those companies in China, including their movable and immovable property, and prohibiting organizations and individuals in China from transactions and cooperation with them," the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s reads.

The statement also quoted its spokesman as saying that: "I would like to stress that the Chinese government remains unwavering in our resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens."

"We urge the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, observe international law and the basic norms governing international relations, stop arming Taiwan, and stop targeting China with illegal unilateral sanctions. Otherwise there will be strong and resolute response from China," the spokesperson added.

On December 4, the USS Gabrielle Giffords entered the waters near the Ayungin Shoal of the disputed Nansha Islands (Spratly). The spokesman for the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China, Tian Junli, called it "a serious violation of China's sovereignty and security."

Despite Beijing's displeasure, the US continued to take provocative actions in the waters it calls "international." According to China, a US Navy anti-submarine aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait on December 6.

Taiwan has been governed by its local administration since 1949 when the Kuomintang’s remaining forces headed by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) were defeated in the Chinese Civil War and took refuge on the island.

Taiwan has preserved the flag and several other symbols of the Republic of China that had existed before the Communists took over the mainland. According to China’s official position, which is supported by most countries, including Russia, the Island of Taiwan is one of China’s provinces.