The United States is considering options for a package of sanctions against China to deter it from invading Taiwan, while the European Union is under diplomatic pressure from Taipei to do the same.

 Reuters writes about this with reference to sources.

 According to the agency, discussions in Washington and separate lobbying by Taipei of EU envoys are at an early stage in response to fears of a Chinese invasion, which have intensified as military tensions in the Taiwan Strait have escalated.

 In both cases, the idea is to impose sanctions on top of measures already taken in the West to limit trade and investment with China in sensitive technologies such as computer chips and telecommunications equipment.

 "The possible introduction of sanctions against China is a much more difficult task than sanctions against Russia, given the close connection of the US and its allies to the Chinese economy," said Nazak Nikakhtar, a former senior official at the US Commerce Department.

 U.S. sanctions talks began after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, but took on new urgency after China's response to a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, two sources said.

 The US, backed by NATO allies, made a similar approach to Russia in January with the threat of unspecified sanctions, but that did little to prevent Putin from invading Ukraine.

 Taiwan's foreign ministry said it had discussed with the US, Europe and other like-minded partners China's recent military exercises and the "big challenges" China poses to Taiwan and the region, but could not elaborate.