World News | US Blacklists 6 Chinese Entities for Balloon Program

BEIJING, Feb. 11 (AP) — The United States on Friday blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijing’s aerospace program in retaliation for allegedly flying a Chinese spy balloon through the country’s airspace a part of.

The economic restrictions come after the Biden administration pledged to consider broader measures to address Chinese surveillance, which would make it harder for the five companies and one research institute to access U.S. technology exports.

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The move could further escalate a diplomatic row between the United States and China over the weekend when the balloon was shot down off the coast of the Carolinas. The United States said the balloon was equipped to detect and gather intelligence signals, but Beijing insisted it was a weather craft that went off course.

The incident prompted Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to abruptly cancel a high-stakes trip to Beijing aimed at easing tensions.

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The BIS said the six entities were targeted because “they support China’s military modernization efforts, particularly the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aerospace program, including airships and balloons.”

“The PLA is using high-altitude balloons (HAB) for intelligence and reconnaissance activities,” it said.

Undersecretary of Commerce Don Graves tweeted that his department “will not hesitate to continue using” such restrictions and other regulatory and enforcement tools “to protect the national security and sovereignty of the United States.”

The six entities are Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd., the 48th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology Co., Ltd., Yingren Aviation Technology Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Tianhaixiang Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. and Shanxi Eagle People Aviation Technology Group Co., Ltd.

A U.S. military jet fighter jet shot down an unidentified object flying off the remote northern coast of Alaska on Friday at the order of President Joe Biden. The object was shot down because it reportedly posed a threat to the safety of civilian flights, not because it was known to be being monitored.

But the back-to-back incidents reflect heightened concerns about China’s surveillance programs and public pressure to take a tough line on Biden. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)