US Imposes Sanctions on 6 Chinese Firms Over Spy Balloon Programs

The United States has blacklisted six Chinese entities that it found to have aided Beijing’s surveillance balloon programs, following one such balloon floating over the United States for a week gathering intelligence.
In a statement issued on Feb. 10, the Commerce Department identified five companies and a research institute involved in efforts to support “aerospace programs including airships and balloons and related materials and components” for the Chinese military, also known as the People’s Liberation Army.
The measure will restrict U.S. companies from selling products and technologies to the firms without first seeking government permission.
“The Commerce Department will not hesitate to continue to use the Entity List and our other regulatory and enforcement tools to protect U.S. national security and sovereignty,” Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said….}