(FiveNation.com)- Last Thursday, the Biden administration said it would “severely” restrict dozens of Chinese enterprises, including one chipmaker, over their efforts to use sophisticated technologies to assist the Chinese military.
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security announced that the 36 entities will face “stringent license requirements” reducing their access to certain US-produced technologies, software, and commodities, including advanced computing and artificial intelligence.
The Commerce Department’s move comes over two months after the Biden administration imposed curbs on China’s access to advanced semiconductors.
The agency said the new designations would also take aim at Russian-linked entities that are supporting the invasion of Ukraine.
Alan Estevez, the undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security said in a press release that the actions are designed to safeguard national security by crippling Beijing’s ability to “leverage artificial intelligence, advanced computer, and other powerful, commercially available computer, and other powerful, commercially available technologies for military modernization and human rights abuses.”
Estevez added that the move would continue the agency’s efforts “to detect and disrupt Russia’s efforts to obtain necessary items and technologies,” including from Iran, in its ongoing war against Ukraine.
The Commerce Department named 30 groups that would be included in the entity list of those looking to boost China’s military modernization. According to last Thursday’s press release, four more were added due to their “significant risk of becoming involved in activities that could have a negative impact” on US national security.
Another entity was added over its alleged association with China’s human rights abuses against the Uyghurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang Province and for its alleged assistance in helping Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to obtain US items.
Chinese chipmaker Yangtze Memory Technologies Company (YMTC) was also included on the list.
The Biden administration said it would eventually lift some of the restrictions on Chinese entities if they successfully comply with US checks.
