BEIJING, China: A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said this week that due to their involvement in Washington's latest arms sales to Taiwan, Beijing will impose sanctions on the chief executives of arms manufacturers Boeing Defense and Raytheon.

The sanctions on Boeing CEO Ted Colbert and Raytheon head Gregory Hayes are in response to the sale of military equipment, including 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles to Taiwan, that were approved by the U.S. State Department on 2nd September.

The two companies do not sell armaments to China, but both operate commercial aviation businesses in the country.

Citing "their involvement in these arms sales," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Colbert and Hayes will be sanctioned, "in order to protect China's sovereignty and security interests."

Mao did not mention details about the sanctions or how they would be enforced.

U.S. defense procurement rules generally prohibit parts that originates in China, so sanctions have had no impact on the U.S. military's purchases.

The Pentagon announced the arms package after China's aggressive military response near Taiwan following last month's visit by U.S.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking U.S. official to recently travel to Taipei.

Both Raytheon and Boeing declined to comment, though Boeing officials said they plan to re market some planes intended to be sold to Chinese airlines, amidst geopolitical tensions that have delayed deliveries.

Beijing considers self-ruled Taiwan to be a Chinese province and had pledged to bring it under its control, if necessary by force.

Taipei rejects China's sovereignty claims, stressing only that its people can decide their own future and vowing to defend itself if attacked.