The U.S. Commerce Department added five Chinese companies to an export blacklist for allegedly helping Russia’s military despite U.S. and allied efforts to cut off Russia’s access to technology following its invasion of Ukraine.
Commerce officials said the companies had supplied items to Russian entities of concern before Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion and “continue to contract to supply” sanctioned Russian entities. They didn’t provide details on the technology involved.
The move, effective Tuesday, marks the first time U.S. officials have taken action against Chinese companies for allegedly supporting Russia in the war. It also comes as U.S. officials and others have continued to say that China has generally not sought to help Russia militarily.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Tuesday that the U.S.’s No. 1 priority with respect to China when it comes to the war in Ukraine is that China not become militarily supportive of Russia through the provision of equipment. “Number two is that they not engage in wholesale or systematic undermining or evasion of U.S. sanctions,” he said while traveling to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Madrid.
The five Chinese firms the U.S. added to an “entity list” that restricts their access to U.S. technology are: Connec Electronic Ltd., King Pai Technology Co., Sinno Electronics Co., Winninc Electronic and World Jetta (H.K.) Logistics Ltd.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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