US Sanctions 42 Chinese Companies... "Supplying US Technology Military Semiconductors to Russia"

Amid Efforts for US-China Summit, Large Number Added to Export Control List

The United States has imposed sanctions on more than 40 Chinese companies for reasons including supporting the Russian military sector.

On the 6th (local time), the U.S. Department of Commerce added 49 foreign entities, including 42 Chinese companies suspected of supporting the Russian military and defense industry, to its export control list, Reuters reported. The Department of Commerce stated that the sanctioned companies are suspected of providing U.S. technology-involved goods to Russian companies linked to the Russian defense sector.

Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce [Photo by Yonhap News]

In addition to Chinese companies, seven other foreign companies from Finland, Germany, India, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United Kingdom were also included in the sanctions. Some of the companies newly listed on the export control list, commonly known as the 'blacklist,' were pointed out by the Department of Commerce as having supplied U.S.-made semiconductor technology to Russia, which is used to accurately guide missiles or drones when Russia attacks Ukraine's civilian sector.

In this regard, the Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that semiconductor companies from Hong Kong and mainland China are included in this round of sanctions. Matthew Axelrod, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Commerce, explained the significance of the action by saying, "If U.S. proprietary technology is provided to the Russian defense sector, we send a clear message that we will find it and take action."

The U.S. government manages foreign companies deemed a threat to U.S. national security or foreign policy by placing them on the export control list. Exporting goods to foreign companies on this list requires prior approval from the U.S. government, which is practically difficult to obtain.

Earlier, the U.S. Department of Commerce added 11 Chinese companies to the export control list last month for supplying drone parts to Russia. The mass sanctions against Chinese companies by the U.S. government have drawn attention as they come at a time when a U.S.-China summit is being discussed in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held next month in San Francisco.

In a situation where it is observed that North Korea's arms supply to Russia has officially begun following last month's North Korea-Russia summit, this measure may reflect an urgent judgment to "warn" China not to engage in military support for Russia. In particular, it is possible that the U.S. intended to send a silent warning message to China before the China-Russia summit, which is expected to be held during the Belt and Road Forum (connecting China, Central Asia, and Europe via land and sea Silk Road) hosted by China in mid-month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.