Spy Balloon Episode: US Blacklists Chinese Companies & Research Institute

Following the flight of the Chinese spy balloon that traversed US airspace last week, the American Government on Friday imposed restrictions on 5 Chinese companies and one research institute.

Sales of technology to these Chinese aviation and technology companies were barred by the Joe Biden administration, reported The New York Times (NYT).

The US Commerce Department added five Chinese companies and one Chinese research institute to the list. These companies will no more be able to buy American parts and technologies without a special license. This action is a direct response to the Chinese government’s use of high-altitude balloons for surveillance, reported NYT.

Chinese spy balloon hovered over the US till the US military shot it down off the country’s east coast on Saturday.

The companies blacklisted by the US include Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology Co; China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute; and Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology Co.; Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co.; Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology Co.; along with Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government tried to downplay the incident, arguing that the balloon was a civilian device for weather predictions.