The US Department of Commerce is restricting six Chinese companies linked to the Chinese military’s aerospace programs from obtaining US technology without government authorization.
The move comes after a Chinese balloon suspected of carrying out surveillance flew over the US last week, raising political tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
US fighter jets shot down the balloon, which US officials say was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military.
The six companies support “the Chinese government’s modernization efforts, specifically those related to aerospace programs, including airships, balloons, and related materials and components, which are used by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for intelligence and reconnaissance,” said the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security.
The six companies are: Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology; China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute; Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology; Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group; Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology; and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group.
The companies’ inclusion on the Department of Commerce’s “Entity List” sends “a clear message to companies, governments and other stakeholders globally that entities on the list pose a threat to national security,” the statement said.
“The Department of Commerce will not hesitate to continue to use the Entity List and our other regulatory and enforcement tools to protect US national security and sovereignty,” Assistant Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said in the statement.
“The Entity List is a powerful tool for identifying and weeding out actors who seek to use their access to global markets to harm and threaten American national security.”
“China’s use of high-altitude balloons violates our sovereignty and threatens US national security,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez.
“Today’s action makes clear that entities seeking to undermine US national security and sovereignty will be prevented from accessing US technologies,” he added.
A CNN reached out to the companies involved and the Chinese government for comment, but did not receive a response as of the time of publication of this report.
Source: CNN Brasil
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