1 of 2| FILE - In this image provided by the FBI, FBI special agents assigned to the evidence response team process material recovered from the high altitude balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina, Feb. 9, 2023, at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va. The United States on Friday, Feb. 10 blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijing’s aerospace programs as part of its retaliation over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that traversed the country’s airspace. (FBI via AP, File)
2 of 2| FILE - A balloon floats over Columbia, Mo., on Feb. 3, 2023. The United States on Friday, Feb. 10 blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijing’s aerospace programs as part of its retaliation over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that traversed the country’s airspace. (Anna Griffin/Missourian via AP, File)
US blacklists 6 Chinese entities over balloon program
1 of 2| FILE - In this image provided by the FBI, FBI special agents assigned to the evidence response team process material recovered from the high altitude balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina, Feb. 9, 2023, at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va. The United States on Friday, Feb. 10 blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijing’s aerospace programs as part of its retaliation over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that traversed the country’s airspace. (FBI via AP, File)
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FILE - In this image provided by the FBI, FBI special agents assigned to the evidence response team process material recovered from the high altitude balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina, Feb. 9, 2023, at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va. The United States on Friday, Feb. 10 blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijing’s aerospace programs as part of its retaliation over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that traversed the country’s airspace. (FBI via AP, File)
2 of 2| FILE - A balloon floats over Columbia, Mo., on Feb. 3, 2023. The United States on Friday, Feb. 10 blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijing’s aerospace programs as part of its retaliation over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that traversed the country’s airspace. (Anna Griffin/Missourian via AP, File)
2 of 2
FILE - A balloon floats over Columbia, Mo., on Feb. 3, 2023. The United States on Friday, Feb. 10 blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijing’s aerospace programs as part of its retaliation over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that traversed the country’s airspace. (Anna Griffin/Missourian via AP, File)
BEIJING (AP) — The United States has blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijing’s aerospace programs as part of its retaliation over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that traversed U.S. airspace.
The economic restrictions announced Friday followed the Biden administration’s pledge to consider broader efforts to address Chinese surveillance activities and will make it more difficult for the five companies and one research institute to obtain American technology exports.
The move is likely to further escalate the diplomatic row between the U.S. and China sparked by the balloon, which was shot down last weekend off the Carolina coast. The U.S. said the balloon was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals, but Beijing insists it was a weather craft that had blown off course.
The incident prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to abruptly cancel a high-stakes trip to Beijing aimed at easing tensions.
The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security said the six entities were being targeted for “their support to China’s military modernization efforts, specifically the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aerospace programs including airships and balloons.”
“The PLA is utilizing High Altitude Balloons (HAB) for intelligence and reconnaissance activities,” it said.
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said on Twitter his department “will not hesitate to continue to use” such restrictions and other regulatory and enforcement tools “to protect U.S. national security and sovereignty.”
The six entities are Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology Co., China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute, Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology Co., Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co., Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology Co., and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co.
The research institute did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The other five entities could not be reached.
On Friday, a U.S. military fighter jet shot down an unknown object flying off the remote northern coast of Alaska on orders from President Joe Biden. The object was downed because it reportedly posed a threat to the safety of civilian flights, instead of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance.
But the twin incidents in such close succession reflect heightened concerns over China’s surveillance program and public pressure on Biden to take a tough stand against it.
As an expert in aerospace technology and international relations, I bring a wealth of knowledge to shed light on the recent development involving the United States blacklisting six Chinese entities linked to Beijing's aerospace programs. My expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of aerospace technology, intelligence gathering methods, and the geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China.
First and foremost, the evidence presented in the provided article centers around a high-altitude balloon recovered off the coast of South Carolina on February 9, 2023. This balloon is alleged to be a Chinese spy balloon equipped for intelligence and reconnaissance activities. The FBI, as depicted in the images, processed materials recovered from the balloon at its laboratory in Quantico, Virginia. This is a standard procedure to analyze and understand the capabilities and intentions behind such aerospace devices.
The United States, in response to this incident, blacklisted six Chinese entities on February 10, citing their connection to Beijing's aerospace programs. The economic restrictions imposed on these entities are part of the broader effort by the Biden administration to address Chinese surveillance activities. The move aims to make it more difficult for these entities to obtain American technology exports, thereby limiting their capabilities in the aerospace sector.
The six Chinese entities that have been blacklisted are:
- Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology Co.
- China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute
- Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology Co.
- Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co.
- Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology Co.
- Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co.
These entities are specifically targeted for their support to China's military modernization efforts, particularly the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) aerospace programs, which include the use of high altitude balloons for intelligence and reconnaissance activities.
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves emphasized on Twitter that the U.S. Department of Commerce would not hesitate to continue using such restrictions and other regulatory tools to protect U.S. national security and sovereignty.
The diplomatic fallout from this incident is evident, as the U.S.-China tensions escalate. The article mentions the abrupt cancellation of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Beijing, which was aimed at easing tensions. Additionally, the heightened concerns over China's surveillance program are further illustrated by the recent incident involving a U.S. military fighter jet shooting down an unknown object off the remote northern coast of Alaska on orders from President Joe Biden. This incident reflects the increased scrutiny and pressure on the Biden administration to take a firm stance against perceived threats to national security.
In conclusion, the blacklisting of Chinese entities, the analysis of recovered materials from the spy balloon, and the broader diplomatic implications all underscore the complex interplay between aerospace technology, intelligence activities, and international relations in the current geopolitical landscape.
