US adds six Chinese entities linked to ‘spy balloon’ programme to export blacklist
- The five companies and one research institute are believed to be connected to People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aerospace programmes
- The entities include Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute
The Biden administration added six Chinese entities to an export blacklist on Friday, saying they were linked to Beijing’s suspected surveillance balloon programme.
The Commerce Department said it added the five companies and one research institute for supporting “China’s military modernisation efforts, specifically the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aerospace programmes including airships and balloons”.
The entities include Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute.
Earlier this week, the United States said it would consider taking action against any entities connected to China’s military that supported the flight of a Chinese spy balloon into US airspace last week.
The Biden administration on Friday also added 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.
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The Chinese embassy in Washington, Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology Co and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Beijing Nanjiang, Dongguang, Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group, Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group could not be reached.
Being added to the entity list makes it hard for targeted companies to obtain US tech exports. Both US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump used the list to hammer Chinese companies and keep Beijing from advancing militarily.
Washington has said it was confident the manufacturer of the Chinese balloon, which the US military shot down last weekend off the US east coast, has a “direct relationship” with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
