China on Wednesday sanctioned 12 defence-related US companies and 10 executives over arms sales to Taiwan and to retaliate earlier American sanctions on Chinese companies tied to Russia.

The entities include units of Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, General Dynamics and other companies. Senior executives of Northrop Grumman Corporation and General Dynamics were also targeted.

China’s ministry of foreign affairs said the measures came after the US “indiscriminately imposed illegal unilateral sanctions on a number of Chinese entities on the grounds of so-called Russian-related factors” and that the US “continued to sell arms to China’s Taiwan region”.

China claims the self-governed island as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. It has long opposed any weapon sales by the US to the island. While the US does not recognise Taiwan as a country, Washington is obligated by federal law to ensure the island’s government has the means to defend itself.

Following the inauguration of Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te on Monday, China announced sanctions on Boeing Defence, Space and Security and two other US defence companies over arms sales to Taiwan, and against Mike Gallagher, a former Republican representative from Wisconsin who has shown support for the island.

The latest round of sanctions, imposed under China’s Anti-Foreign Sanction Law, will freeze all assets of businesses inside China and deny individuals and their immediate family members a visa to enter the country, including Hong Kong and Macau.