"I can't reveal the details at the moment. But believe this - Chinese people always stress standing by their word."

"} 61:{"position":7,"content":"

On Sunday, the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily posted an article on its WeChat account identifying U.S. companies that could be vulnerable to sanctions.

"} 62:{"position":8,"content":"

They included Honeywell International Inc, which makes the engines for the Abrams tanks, and private jets maker Gulfstream Aerospace, which is owned by General Dynamics. China is an important market for both Honeywell and Gulfstream.

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The companies did not respond to requests for comment.

"} 64:{"position":10,"content":"

Ties between China and the United States are already strained over a trade war, which has seen them levy tariffs on each other's imports.

"} 65:{"position":11,"content":"

This is not the first time China has said it would sanction U.S. companies selling weapons to Taiwan. China has announced such steps at least twice before - in 2010 and 2015 - but it is unclear if the sanctions were ever imposed.

"} 66:{"position":12,"content":"

U.S. defense contractors have been barred from dealings with Beijing since China's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators on and around Tiananmen Square in 1989.

"} 67:{"position":13,"content":"

While its relations with Taiwan are technically unofficial, the United States is required by law to assist Taiwan in its defense and is its main supplier of arms, though France has also previously sold warships and fighter jets to Taiwan.

"} 68:{"position":14,"content":"China has been angered as well by the United States allowing Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to visit last week, on her way to diplomatic allies in the Caribbean. She is due to transit the United States again at the end of her trip next week."} 59:["$5a","$5b","$5c","$5d","$5e","$5f","$60","$61","$62","$63","$64","$65","$66","$67","$68"] 69:Tb09,

China says will freeze out U.S. companies that sell Taiwan arms