China has announced sanctions against five US arms manufacturers over weapons sales to Taiwan.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday sanctioned the companies BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat, and Data Link Solutions.

“The countermeasures consist of freezing the properties of those companies in China, including their movable and immovable property, and prohibiting organisations and individuals in China from transactions and cooperation with them,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The US arms sales to China’s Taiwan region… seriously harm China’s sovereignty and security interests,” it added.

The sanctions come ahead of Taiwan’s January 13 presidential and parliamentary elections, which China has claimed are a choice between war and peace.

Last month, the US State Department approved a $300m arms package to strengthen Taiwan’s joint battle command and control system, prompting China to say it would take unspecified “countermeasures” against the companies involved.

China claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve its goals, while the US is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself.