China US

The US Department of Commerce has added seven China-related entities to its so-called export control list, citing national security and foreign policy concerns, Reuters reported on Tuesday, proving once again Washington's complete disregard for international trade rules and mounting damages inflicted by its brazen crackdown campaign to global businesses.

The seven Chinese entities are China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation 9th Academy 771 Research Institute, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation 9th Academy 772 Research Institute, China Academy of Space Technology 502 Research Institute, China Academy of Space Technology 513 Research Institute, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 43 Research Institute, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 58 Research Institute, and Zhuhai Orbita Control Systems. They are mostly related to aerospace, according to Reuters, citing an official notice. 

The US Department of Commerce accused the Chinese entities of "acquiring and attempting to acquire US-origin items in support of China's military modernization efforts." The move means that companies must obtain a license from US authorities before supplying any US materials or services to the entities, Reuters said.

This marks the latest US crackdown move against a growing list of Chinese companies on various grounds, ranging from national security to human rights to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

In late June, the US added five Chinese firms to its trade blacklist, claiming the companies had supplied items to Russian entities.

Chinese officials and experts have repeatedly blasted the US' continuous crackdown on Chinese businesses with manufactured pretexts and urged Washington to withdraw the unilateral sanctions.

Commenting on the addition of five Chinese firms to the blacklist in June, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that China has lodged stern representations with the US side after the latter blacklisted five Chinese companies for allegedly supporting Russia, while urging Washington to withdraw the unilateral sanctions and vowing to defend Chinese firm's interests.

The Chinese side urges the US to immediately correct its mistakes and withdraw relevant sanctions, he said, noting that China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry has also repeatedly criticized that the US uses export controls as a tool of political suppression and economic bullying, and has continuously taken unilateral measures to suppress and contain other countries' enterprises, institutions and individuals, creating difficulties for normal economic and trade cooperation between Chinese and US companies. 

Such crackdown actions will cause serious damage to the international economic and trade order and free trade rules, and pose a serious threat to the global industrial chain and supply chain, which is not good for China, the US, and the whole world, a spokesperson for the ministry said recently.