(TargetLiberty.org) On Friday, the U.S. blacklisted six Chinese entities that were found to be linked to the country’s aerospace programs in retaliation for the alleged Chinese spy balloon that traveled through the U.S. before being shot down on Saturday.
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., were all blacklisted.
Economic restrictions are also being placed on the five companies and one research institute to limit their access to U.S. tech exports.
The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security in a press release said that the six entities worked to support the “PRC’s military modernization efforts” relating to aerospace, “including airships and balloons and related materials and components” being used by the “People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for intelligence and reconnaissance.”
The bureau emphasized that the decision aimed to protect the U.S.’s national security and sent a clear message to entities that threaten national security.
Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, Alan Estevez said in a statement that the use of the balloons was a clear violation of U.S. sovereignty and could pose a security concern for the country, which is why those entities will no longer have access to U.S. technologies.
This decision will likely lead to increased tension between China and the U.S.
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