The Biden administration has added five Chinese companies to its economic blacklist for allegedly supporting Russia’s military and defense industrial base, blocking them from U.S. technology.
“Today’s action sends a powerful message to entities and individuals across the globe that if they seek to support Russia, the United States will cut them off as well,” Alan Estevez, undersecretary of commerce for industry and security, said in the statement.
The Commerce Department placed a total of 36 entities from nine countries on the “entity list,” effectively restricting U.S. companies from exporting or transferring products or technology.
The five Chinese businesses added to the blacklist are Connec Electronic Ltd., King Pai Technology Co. Ltd., Sinno Electronics Co. Ltd., Winninc Electronic, and World Jetta (HK) Logistics Ltd. Three of the firms also have offices in other countries—including Russia, Vietnam, Lithuania, and Britain—although the Commerce Department called them entities with “substantial/primary operations in China.”
China–Russia Ties
The action comes amid growing concern among Western officials over the burgeoning alliance between Beijing and Moscow since Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin first announced a “no limits” partnership on Feb. 4.National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on June 28 that Washington’s priority with Beijing regarding the war in Ukraine is to ensure that the regime doesn’t provide military equipment to Russia.
“Thus far, we have not seen China act in a way inconsistent with those two principles and certainly not at scale with respect to the economic relationship.”
The announcement marks the first time the Biden administration placed Chinese businesses on the blacklist for aiding Russia’s war effort since the February invasion.
The Commerce Department also called out two Chinese entities that have been on the entity list since 2018 for “having supported, and continued to support” Russia’s military since the invasion of Ukraine. The two companies are China Electronics Technology Group Corp. 13th Research Institute (CETC 13) and its subordinate institution, Micro Electronic Technology in China. Both are part of the state-owned defense conglomerate CETC.
Washington has vowed to closely monitor compliance and enforce the regulations.
“We will not hesitate to act, regardless of where a party is located, if they are violating U.S. law,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration Thea Rozman Kendler.