China banned exports of dual-use products to over two dozen U.S. defense companies, targeting top players such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, as it objected to Washington’s recent arms sales to Taiwan.

Beijing imposed the ban on 28 U.S. defense companies and placed 10 of them on a list of unreliable companies for arms sales to Taiwan, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

The decision, “based on China’s Export Control Law and the Export Control Regulations on Dual-Use Items,” was made to “safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations including non-proliferation,” the ministry said.

The target companies also included General Dynamics and Boeing.

The ten “unreliable units” were involved in American arms sales to Taiwan “despite strong opposition” from Beijing.

“The so-called military-technological cooperation seriously undermines China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, violates the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, and seriously endangers peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” it said a ministry spokesman said.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force to “reunify” the island.

The export ban is similar to last month’s sanctions on defense and aerospace companies involved in an earlier arms sale to Taiwan. The sanctions targeted Insitu, Hudson Technologies, Saronic Technologies, Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm and Oceaneering International Inc.

Companies subject to the latest ban will be banned from carrying out import and export activities in China and making new investments. Their officials will not be allowed to enter the country and their work permits or residence permits will be revoked.

It was not immediately clear how many people would be affected by the decision.

Taiwan received a batch of 38 modern Abrams main battle tanks from the US last month, significantly strengthening the island’s land defense capabilities. Another 42 tanks, considered the heaviest in the world, are scheduled to be delivered this year and 28 the following year.

As China’s military exercises increase, the island has upgraded its defense capabilities and acquired F-16 fighter jets, missiles, submarines and artillery systems from the United States.