U.S. Blacklists Six Chinese Entities, the United States government has taken action against six Chinese entities for their ties to Beijing’s aerospace programs. The move is in response to an alleged Chinese spy balloon that entered U.S. airspace. The Biden administration is taking steps to address Chinese surveillance activities.
The six entities – Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology Co., China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute, Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology Co., Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co., Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology Co., and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co. – will face economic restrictions and will find it harder to obtain American technology exports.
The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security stated that the entities are being targeted for “their support to China’s military modernization efforts, specifically the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aerospace programs including airships and balloons.” The PLA is using high altitude balloons for intelligence and reconnaissance activities.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled a trip to Beijing aimed at easing tensions following the incident with the spy balloon. The U.S. is taking a tough stance against Chinese surveillance, with Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves stating that the department “will not hesitate to continue to use” restrictions and other regulatory tools “to protect U.S. national security and sovereignty.”
These actions by the U.S. government show heightened concerns over China’s surveillance program and the pressure on President Biden to take a strong stance against it. A U.S. military fighter jet even shot down an unknown object off the coast of Alaska that posed a threat to civilian flights.
The diplomatic row between the U.S. and China has escalated, and it remains to be seen how this will play out in the future.