China announced on Monday sanctions against some American defense and technology companies, in response to the recent decision of the United States to restrict access of some Chinese firms to military contracts, reports AFP.
The Beijing Ministry of Commerce has conveyed that Chinese companies will no longer be able to export to those companies dual-use products, that is, goods that can have both civilian and military applications.
Among the targeted companies are drone manufacturers and companies operating in the field of rare materials.
The Chinese authorities have justified the measure by the need to protect national security and have accused Washington of the “abusive” expansion of the list of Chinese companies considered to be associated with the military.
Separately, the Ministry of Finance in Beijing announced that Chinese government institutions will no longer be able to purchase products from 46 American companies. Among these are several divisions of the groups Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Dynamics.
The decision comes after the Pentagon included, at the beginning of the month, several Chinese technology companies on the list of firms it alleges have ties with the Chinese military. Among these are Alibaba and Baidu.
Baidu has rejected the accusations and conveyed that the allegations suggesting the company has ties with the military are “completely unfounded”.
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