The United States is considering options for a sanctions package against China to deter it from invading Taiwan, with the European Union coming under diplomatic pressure from Taipei to do the same.
The sources say the deliberations in Washington and Taipei's separate lobbying of EU envoys were both at an early stage a response to fears of a Chinese invasion which have grown as military tensions escalate in the Taiwan Strait.
They said the idea is to adopt sanctions beyond measures already taken in the west to restrict some trade and investment with China in sensitive technologies like computer chips and telecoms equipment.