WASHINGTON – The Biden administration on Friday added six Chinese entities connected to Beijing’s suspected surveillance balloon programme to an export blacklist.

The Commerce Department said it added the five companies and one research institute for supporting “China’s military modernisation efforts, specifically the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aerospace programmes including airships and balloons”.

The entities include Beijing Nanjing Aerospace Technology and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation’s 48th Research Institute.

Earlier this week, the United States said it would consider taking action against entities connected to China’s military that supported the flight of an alleged Chinese spy balloon into US airspace last week.

The Biden administration on Friday also added Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology, Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group, Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington, Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang and China Electronics did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Beijing Nanjing, Dongguang Lingkong, Eagles Men, Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang and Shanxi Eagles Men could not be reached.

Being added to the entity list makes it hard for targeted companies to obtain US technology exports.

Both US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump used the list to hammer Chinese companies and keep Beijing from advancing militarily.

Washington has said it is confident the manufacturer of the Chinese balloon, which the US military shot down last weekend off the US east coast, has a “direct relationship” with the PLA. REUTERS