China has imposed sanctions on five US arms manufacturers for selling weapons to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. This move comes after the US approved $300m in military aid for Taiwan, which is gearing up for its presidential and parliamentary elections. Beijing has not ruled out the use of force to achieve its goals, while the US is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with defense capabilities. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that the sanctions include freezing the assets of the companies in China and prohibiting transactions with them. The US arms sales to Taiwan have led to increased pressure from Beijing, and the upcoming elections have been described by China as a choice between war and peace. Taiwan has accused Beijing of attempting to influence the election and has reported sightings of Chinese warplanes and balloons near the island. The current president, Tsai Ing-wen, has affirmed that the future of Taiwan should be decided by its people.