Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai on Thursday told a court trying him for colluding with foreign powers that he paid a former U.S. general to advise former Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen in late 2017, but denied seeking to endanger China's national security.

Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has admitted to connecting three ex-United States officials with the Taiwanese government to offer advice on foreign relations and strengthening diplomatic ties with Washington,

China's commerce ministry said on Wednesday that it had added four U.S. companies to its so-called "Unreliable Entity List" for their involvement in arms sales to Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory.

BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese commerce ministry said on Tuesday that it had added seven U.S. companies to its so-called "Unreliable Entity List" for their involvement in arms sales to Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory.

Beijing has issued an additional series of sanctions against seven US companies that it added to its "Unreliable Entity List" for selling arms to Taiwan.