Trump Administration Imposed Massive Sanctions against China

The black list included heads of large state-owned companies, high-ranking officials of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Navy, as well as a number of private companies associated with the Chinese military sector. On Thursday, Donald Trump’s administration imposed further sanctions on China, blacklisting a number of Chinese senior officials and a number of companies for alleged wrongdoing in the South China Sea region. Several large Chinese companies have been included in the list of prohibited investment properties. The new sanctions will further increase tensions between the US and China, Washington's strategic rival in Asia, just days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Biden's team has not yet responded to a request from Reuters for comment on the new sanctions. The sanctions will affect heads of state-owned enterprises, high-ranking officials of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese armed forces, as well as the major oil company CNOOC in connection with the alleged pressure applied by China against other states claiming parts of the South China Sea. Nine Chinese companies have been added to the list of firms associated with the Chinese military. Among these companies are aircraft manufacturer Comac and mobile phone manufacturer Xiaomi Corp. These companies will be subject to a new investment ban, requiring US investors to dispose of the assets of blacklisted companies no later than November 11, 2021. The Chinese Embassy in the United States criticized the actions of the Trump administration, accusing Washington of "hanging political and ideological labels on economic and trade issues and using state power to pressure foreign companies under the pretext of protecting national security." “The United States supports the countries of Southeast Asia that want to protect their sovereign rights and interests in accordance with international law,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, announcing the new sanctions. Pompeo said Washington is imposing visa restrictions on heads of Chinese state-owned enterprises and officials of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as the leadership of the PRC's navy. According to Pompeo, the sanctions are directed against those who are “responsible for or involved in large-scale reclamation, construction or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea, or the use of force against Southeast Asian countries in order to prevent their access to natural resources. (South China) Sea ". The list of companies associated with the Chinese military includes the aviation company Skyrizon, Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc, Luokung Technology Corp, Beijing Zhongguancun Development Investment Center, GOWIN Semiconductor Corp, Grand China Air Co Ltd, Global Tone Communication Technology Co Ltd and China National Aviation Holding Co Ltd. list. On Wednesday, the Trump administration scrapped plans to blacklist Chinese tech giants Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu, four people familiar with the matter said.