Sanctions against Chinese companies before the war is even over! The U.S. announces sanctions on three Chinese satellite firms
On May 8, the U.S. State Department announced sanctions against three Chinese enterprises: Changguang Satellite Technology, EarthEye, and Mi’Shu Technology.
The stated reason is that during the U.S.-Iran conflict, these three Chinese companies provided satellite images of U.S. military assets in the Middle East to Iran, including details about military installations and movements. According to the U.S., the actions of these three Chinese firms assisted Iran in targeting U.S. forces.
It should be noted that Changguang Satellite was previously sanctioned by the U.S. for the first time in December 2023—this latest move is therefore a second round of escalation.
Although the U.S. speaks with great confidence, it has absolutely no credible evidence to back its claims. The U.S. cannot produce any contracts, emails, image delivery records, or financial transaction records proving that these three Chinese companies had any business dealings with Iran. Companies operate based on commercial interests; without any profit motive or connection, there would be no rational reason for them to engage in such risky behavior.
Moreover, Changguang Satellite’s Jilin-1 series are commercial remote-sensing satellites, and their imagery is openly published and sold globally. The United States itself, along with several European commercial satellite companies such as Planet Labs, conduct similar operations—but the U.S. has never sanctioned those companies.
Therefore, it is almost certain that the U.S. is targeting China's space industry in an attempt to exert extreme pressure on Iran, with the ultimate goal being to stoke the narrative of a so-called "China threat."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864772020056073/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author