Amid heightened tensions between the US and China, the US Commerce Department has placed four Chinese companies on its blacklist for supplying AI chips to China’s military modernisation efforts, as reported by The Times of India.
This action is part of broader US efforts to safeguard sensitive American technology from being used for military purposes in China. The four blacklisted companies are Linkzol (Beijing) Technology Co, Xi’an Like Innovative Information Technology Co, Beijing Anwise Technology Co, and SITONHOLY (Tianjin) Co. They are among the 11 new entities added to the Commerce Department’s Entity List this week.
The Entity List is a tool used by the US government to control exports and prevent American technology from reaching unauthorised entities. The US has also imposed broad restrictions on exporting advanced semiconductors and chip-making equipment to China to curb the transfer of US technology supporting China’s military advancements.
According to Reuters, US export enforcement official Kevin Kurland stated that these blacklisted Chinese firms were acquiring US AI chips for military purposes, making it challenging for them to access American goods and technology.
China has dismissed these allegations, accusing the US of trying to suppress Chinese companies. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the US is aiming to ‘contain and suppress’ Chinese firms, refuting the US claims.
Additionally, the US has tightened export controls on five other companies accused of supporting drone production for Russia’s involvement in Ukraine and Iran’s actions in the Red Sea.
One of these firms is Jiangxi Xintuo Enterprise Co, which is linked to backing Russia’s drone initiatives and a network of companies providing drone components to Iran, as reported by TOI.
