China has declared sanctions against three US military companies due to arms sales to Taiwan.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems, and Boeing Defense, Space & Security are the firms that will be added to Beijing's list of "unreliable entities," China's commerce ministry said. 

The state-run Xinhua news agency said, "They will be barred from engaging in China-related import or export activities, and are forbidden to make new investments in China."

"Senior executives of the companies are prohibited from entering China, while their work permits will be revoked," it added.

US-Taiwan navies held quiet Pacific drills in April: Reuters

Four people told Reuters on May 14 that the US and Taiwan navies carried out joint drills in the Pacific in April that were off the books.

The United States has been reinforcing alliances with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, raising tensions as it amps up its rhetoric against China.

The sources, who asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters that these non-publicized drills happened last month in the Western Pacific, with one source revealing that "multiple military assets" were part of it. 

The drills were off the books and were dubbed "unplanned sea encounters," a second source told Reuters.

Revealing that these exercises were a tacit agreement, which the US and Taiwan claimed that they were due to a coincidental encounter, the second source explained "It's like I am dining in this restaurant and you also happen to be here," adding, "Then it looks like I am only sharing the same table with someone."

The days-long exercises, which comprised half a dozen navy ships from both countries, including frigates and supply and support vessels, were designed to practice "basic" operations like communications, refueling, and resupply, the source added. 

US approved $700mln. collective military aid package for Taiwan

Back on March 28, days after the United States approved a $300 million military aid package for Taiwan, a bilateral congressional delegation vowed to further support the island. 

The delegation, led by the chair of the House Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee, Rep. Jack Bergman, affirmed that the United States will continue to support Taiwan and ensure its security and that of the region.

"This includes a strong Taiwan maritime strategy and how we can work together on shared goals to counter China on their increasingly aggressive actions in the region," he added, during his meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Tsai Ing-wen, in return, thanked the delegation and said this would bolster US-Taiwanese relations.

This also coincided with Congress allocating a $400 million package on March 23, as part of the Defense Appropriations Act, to combat Chinese influence in the region. 

Earlier in March, Taipei confirmed the presence of US soldiers on its front-line islands with China across the Taiwan Strait, including one just a few kilometers away from China's southeast shores and over 150 km away from Taiwan's main island.