The Chinese government says it will impose sanctions on five US defense industry firms in response to Washington's new arms sales to Taiwan.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced the step in a statement on Sunday.

The statement says the US's arms sales and sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals "seriously harm China's sovereignty and security interests" and "undermine the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." It went on to say, "China strongly deplores and firmly opposes" the US actions.

The statement says Beijing's measure is in accordance with China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law and targets BAE Systems Land and Armaments and four other US firms.

It says the sanctions consist of freezing the properties of the US companies in China and prohibiting organizations and individuals in China from transactions and cooperation with them.

Beijing has repeatedly imposed sanctions on US firms to protest Washington's weapons sales to Taiwan. The latest move is widely viewed as a fresh attempt to keep the US in check, less than one week before Taiwan's presidential election.