U.S. Sanctions Chinese Entities Over Military Support

The United States has sanctioned 11 Chinese entities for their involvement in supporting China’s military modernization, the Department of Commerce announced Friday. The sanctions place these entities on the department’s Entity List, imposing strict licensing requirements for the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of specific items.

According to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), these entities sought to acquire U.S.-origin technologies to advance China’s defense capabilities. Along with the Chinese entities, one Burmese and one Pakistani entity were also added to the blacklist.

Among the sanctioned companies, Chengdu RML Technology Co., Ltd. provided precision-guided missiles and satellite communication systems to the Chinese military. Chengdu Yaguang Electronics Co., Ltd. and its parent company, Yaguang Technology Group Co., Ltd., supplied dual-use electronic components to other sanctioned Chinese entities. Hefei Starwave Communication Technology Co., Ltd. was identified for delivering radio frequency and microwave products for military applications.

Additional entities targeted include research institutions and laboratories involved in hypersonic weapons development and military-civil fusion efforts, which integrate civilian advancements into military projects. These include the Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics, and Physics; Ji Hua Laboratory; Nanjing Simite Optical Instruments Co., Ltd.; Peng Cheng Laboratory; Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics; Suzhou Ultranano Precision Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.; and Wuhu Kewei Zhaofu Electronics Co., Ltd.

The sanctions reflect U.S. concerns over China’s Military-Civil Fusion strategy, a policy aimed at eliminating boundaries between civilian and military sectors to advance defense technologies. The State Department has warned that this strategy exploits dual-use technologies, including quantum computing, semiconductors, 5G, and artificial intelligence, to gain military dominance.

The BIS also sanctioned Telecom International Myanmar Company Limited for aiding Burma’s military regime in tracking and targeting individuals, facilitating human rights abuses. In Pakistan, Emerging Future Solutions Private Limited was blacklisted for contributing to the country’s ballistic missile program.

These actions are part of ongoing U.S. efforts to prevent the misuse of advanced technologies by foreign entities and to safeguard national security and global stability. The Commerce Department reiterated its commitment to addressing threats posed by the diversion of critical technologies for military purposes.