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 Thursday targeted dozens of American companies for punitive trade actions as U.S.-China tensions increase. The MOC added also 10 U.S. companies to its unreliable entities list.

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.

Chinese President Xi Jinping in a New Year's address declared Taiwan and China to be one people and said no nation can stop China from annexing the island nation.

"The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family," Mr Xi said in a speech televised on China's state broadcaster CCTV. “No one can sever our family bonds, and no one can stop the historical trend of national reunification.”

The Chinese leader projected confidence amid Beijing’s economic struggles and ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump, set to take a hard line on China.