The U.S. government has blacklisted a dozen more Chinese companies citing national security and foreign policy concerns. Washington says some of the banned organizations are helping the Chinese military modernize its quantum computing program.
Tensions between the United States and China have been rising recently over a number of issues, including Taiwan. In the meantime, the United States government has taken this new step. A virtual summit between the leaders of the two countries was held earlier this month. The main discussion there is about trade between the two countries.
The United States has previously blacklisted eight technology companies for helping the Chinese military pursue key US items in quantum computing and military applications. The list goes back to the time of the former Trump administration due to national security concerns. Since then, one Chinese technology company after another is being added to it.
The U.S. Department of Commerce says 16 individuals and entities operating in China and Pakistan have been added to the list because of their involvement in “Pakistan’s unsafe nuclear activities or ballistic missile program.” A total of 27 new names from China, Japan, Pakistan and Singapore have been added to the list.
Washington has also banned Russia’s Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. The only reason given was the production of military equipment.
Separately, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology has been added to the blacklist. However, the list does not provide any details other than the manufacturing of military equipment.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raymond said in a statement that the new lists would help US technology address issues such as China and Russia’s military advances and concerns about Pakistan’s unsafe nuclear program or ballistic missile program.
Chinese telecom giant Huawei was added to the list in 2019. The United States has said in a statement that the company posed a risk to national security. As a result of the US move, Huawei became isolated from several major suppliers. As a result, it is difficult for the company to make mobile phones. However, the Chinese government has always denied these allegations.