U.S. Imposes Sanctions on 6 Chinese Firms Over Spy Balloon Programs

Conservative News DailyFebruary 13, 2023

The United States has blacklisted six Chinese entities that it found to have aided Beijing’s surveillance balloon programs, following one such balloon floating over the United States for a week gathering intelligence.

The Commerce Department released a statement on February 10, identifying five companies and one research institute that were involved in support efforts. “aerospace programs including airships and balloons and related materials and components” For the Chinese Military, also known as the People’s Liberation Army.

This measure will prohibit U.S. companies selling technology and products to these firms without government approval.

“The Commerce Department will not hesitate to continue to use the Entity List and our other regulatory and enforcement tools to protect U.S. national security and sovereignty,” Don Graves, Deputy Commerce Secretary, said.

He described the entity listing as “a powerful tool for identifying and cutting off actors that seek to use their access to global markets to do harm and threaten American national security.”

The sight of a balloon at high altitude circling the country for one week and twice invading U.S. airspace has sparked outrage in Washington. It also reaffirmed the threat that China poses to the United States, its allies, and prompted renewed attention to the dangers that they pose.

Since The balloon can be lowered On February 4, officials revealed that it was part of a spying programme that covered 40 countries on five continents. The latest discovery from the debris recovery includes the balloon’s Ability to collect Electronic communications The U.S. government declared a military jet on Feb. 10. Shot down another “high-altitude object” Flying at 40,000ft above Alaska, of unknown origin.

These six entities are Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology, China Electronics Technology Group Corp. 48th research Institute; Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology, Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group and Shanxi branch; Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group and Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology.

Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology (Shanghai-based) is a unit belonging to Deluxe Family. It was established in 2015 by Beihang University. The contract allocated 480 million yuan ($70.5million) for the development of near-space airships. The state brokerage firm that represented it at the time described it as “a great company.” “classic example of deep civil-military fusion”—the regime’s aggressive national strategy compelling civilian Chinese companies to support its military goals—and expressed optimism for the “wide potential for future military application” Coming out of the project.

The partnership yielded the country’s first military-civilian stratospheric airship, named “Yuanmeng,” About the meaning “a dream fulfilled,” October 2015.

Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group is based in Beijing and makes stealth planes, virtual reality training simulators and autonomous drones. It has also participated in more than a dozen state military and aerospace programs. Its products have contributed to the security of the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit held in China, as well as a grand military parade in 2015 marking the 70th anniversary of the Sino–Japanese war victory, according to its website.

Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology was founded by a Chinese veteran of the anti-aircraft artillery unit. It produces aircraft and armored scout cars for civilian and military purposes. According to its website, it participated in a naval drill at the invitation of armed police. It deployed military drones to aid coast guard personnel to find and arrest target vessels.

Public registration information shows that Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology has been connected to Beihang University. It develops stratospheric aircraftships.