US Imposes Sanctions on Entities Assisting Russia in Making Military Drones
U.S. authorities have taken action against 28 entities from various countries, including China and Russia, accusing some of them of aiding Russia in the production of military drones.
The recently released trade blacklist, unveiled on Sept. 25, specifically targeted 11 Chinese firms, along with five Russian companies and others based in Pakistan, Finland, Oman, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Commerce Department stated that nine of these entities, including Asia Pacific Links Ltd. based in Hong Kong, conspired to supply drone parts to the previously sanctioned Russian defense contractor, Special Technology Center, thereby violating U.S. export controls.
The Department also identified two other Hong Kong firms, Speed Business Trading and Sunrising Logistics, as entities attempting to support Iran’s weapons of mass destruction and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) programs. Additionally, five Chinese entities and one employee from a sanctioned firm were blacklisted for allegedly collaborating to supply aerospace parts to Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Company, enabling the production of drones used in attacks on oil tankers in the Middle East and by Russia in Ukraine.
Furthermore, the Commerce Department raised concerns about the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, affiliated with China’s prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences, suspecting it of acquiring U.S.-origin items for Chinese military research purposes.
“Our actions send a clear message to those trying to evade our export controls that there will be consequences for behavior that seeks to undermine U.S. national security interests,” emphasized Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez. “We will not hesitate to take swift and meaningful action against those who continue seeking to supply and support [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s illegal and immoral war in Ukraine.”
Matthew S. Axelrod, the assistant secretary for export enforcement, highlighted that this list demonstrates the United States’ unwavering determination to impose consequences related to national security, particularly in addressing Russia’s evasion of export controls.
Iranians walk past Iran’s Shahed 129 drone during celebrations in Tehran to mark the 37th anniversary of the Islamic revolution on Feb. 11, 2016.(Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)
This latest measure comes less than a week after the Treasury Department announced sanctions on companies from China, Iran, Russia, and Turkey for facilitating the flow of components used in manufacturing UAVs, including aerospace-grade radar altimeter systems and sensors, to Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Company.
During a congressional testimony last week, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized that her department has added over 700 Chinese entities to the entity list. She noted that more than a third of these additions occurred under the Biden administration.
“We cannot sell our most advanced artificial intelligence chips or other technologies to the PRC [People’s Republic of China] if they will be used by their military to undermine our national security,” Raimondo stated, urging lawmakers to provide additional funding for the Bureau of Industry and Security, the export control arm of the Commerce Department, to recruit export enforcement agents and technology experts.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo listens as President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before the start of a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington on March 03, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“National security increasingly relies on technology and maintaining our advantage over China, staying one step ahead of them,” she added.
On Sept. 22, the Commerce Department finalized rules to limit the Chinese communist regime’s access to the $52 billion semiconductor funding provided under the CHIPS and Science Act. The move aims to ”ensure companies receiving U.S. Government funds do not undermine our national security.” According to the rules, recipients of the fund will be prohibited from investing in semiconductor manufacturing in ”foreign countries of concern,” such as China, for a period of 10 years. They will also be restricted from engaging in joint research or licensing technologies or products that raise national security concerns with any “foreign entities of concern.”
Commerce for Industry and Security, Eric L. Hirschhorn, stated, “These actions are not taken lightly and are necessary to protect American interests and national security. We will continue to aggressively police the export of sensitive items to countries and entities that threaten our national security.
To its Entity List, which imposes restrictions on U.S. companies from doing business with those entities. The move is part of the ongoing effort to address national security concerns related to China’s technological advancements and its alleged role in supporting Iran’s military capabilities.
The imposition of sanctions on entities assisting Russia in making military drones is another significant step taken by the U.S. government to protect its national security interests. By targeting entities from various countries, including China and Russia, the U.S. authorities are sending a strong message that they will not tolerate any actions that undermine U.S. export controls.
The Commerce Department specifically identified 11 Chinese firms and five Russian companies as entities involved in aiding Russia’s production of military drones. Additionally, entities from Pakistan, Finland, Oman, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates were also included in the trade blacklist. These entities were accused of conspiring to supply drone parts to the previously sanctioned Russian defense contractor, Special Technology Center, thereby violating U.S. export controls.
Furthermore, two Hong Kong firms, Speed Business Trading and Sunrising Logistics, were identified as entities attempting to support Iran’s weapons of mass destruction and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) programs. Chinese entities and an employee from a sanctioned firm were also blacklisted for collaborating to supply aerospace parts to Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Company, enabling the production of drones used in attacks on oil tankers in the Middle East and by Russia in Ukraine.
The concerns raised by the Commerce Department regarding the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, affiliated with China’s prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences, further highlight the U.S. government’s determination to address national security risks. The suspicion that this institute has acquired U.S.-origin items for Chinese military research purposes reflects the U.S. government’s concern about China’s technological advancements and its potential implications for national security.
The U.S. government officials involved in these actions have emphasized the importance of protecting U.S. national security interests. Under Secretary of
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