BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have seriously violated China's "One China Principle" and provisions of joint communiques between China and the U.S., Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China's defence ministry said on Friday. China has lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side over the matter, Zhang said.

China has announced sanctions on American companies selling arms to the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory and threatens to annex by force.