China's Foreign Ministry has imposed sanctions on nine U.S. military-linked firms, including Sierra Nevada Corporation and Stick Rudder Enterprises LLC, in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, valued at $228 million. These measures, effective immediately, include freezing the firms' properties in China and prohibiting any transactions with them by organizations and individuals within the country. This escalation comes shortly after the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced the approval of the arms sale, marking a significant point in the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has intensified its sanctions against entities involved in aiding Pakistan's ballistic missile program, targeting several firms based in China and Belarus. Among those sanctioned is the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry (RIAMB), linked to Pakistan's missile initiatives. The U.S. aims to curb proliferation activities and strengthen the international non-proliferation regime through these measures.