China’s decision this week to slap several major U.S. defense firms with penalizing trade measures is being viewed as a “shot across the bow” ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration. The move — targeting defense contractors Raytheon,

Beijing sent a fresh warning to President-elect Donald Trump of the tools it can use to protect national interests.

China's Ministry of Commerce added 28 entities to its export control list to "safeguard national security and interests".

In the latest escalation of trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, China on Thursday announced export control measures targeting 28 U.S. companies and added 10 U.S. companies to a list of entities barred from doing business in China.

The Chinese government has placed sanctions on seven companies in response to recent U.S. announcements of military sales and aid to Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as part of its territory.

China sanctioned 10 US defence firms over arms sales to Taiwan, its second round of measures against American companies in less than a week.

China has imposed sanctions on 10 U.S. defense firms for arms sale to Taiwan, including Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing Defense. Analysts say the actions are largely symbolic as these companies are already under Chinese sanctions.