The news was announced on Friday, May 8 and was quickly picked up by numerous global press titles. “The United States has imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies specializing in commercial satellites, suspecting them of supporting Iran,” reports the Financial Times from London, summarizing the content of a press release issued by the US State Department.
The targeted companies are The Earth Eye, specializing in satellite communications, MizarVision, involved in geospatial intelligence, and Chang Guang Satellite Technology, a group working in commercial satellite imaging. All three are accused by Washington of aiding Tehran by providing satellite images used for military purposes by the Islamic Republic forces.
Mid-April, the British daily revealed that Iran secretly obtained a Chinese spy satellite to target US bases in the Middle East. The name of the company The Earth Eye was mentioned at that time, and now, a few weeks later, the White House has decided to take action.
As Bloomberg explains, since the start of the war in the Middle East, “the United States has sought to restrict access to commercial satellite images, as they can provide quick information used for military attacks.”
“Last month, the Trump administration asked technology providers not to disseminate images of certain conflict-related areas,” continues the New York media. The problem is that China has become a giant in the sector, with Beijing “managing the largest commercial imaging program outside the United States.” Clearly, its companies do not intend to comply with Washington’s demands, and this observation applies not only to the satellite image sector.
The American Treasury Department also announced on May 8 sanctions against companies aiding Tehran. Among them, notes the South China Morning Post from Hong Kong, “include the company Yushita Shanghai International, accused of helping Tehran buy weapons, as well as Hitex Insulation Ningbo, accused of providing several million dollars worth of materials used by Iran in ballistic missile research and launch tests.”
Two Chinese companies, along with two other companies based in Hong Kong, “HK Hesin Industry, which the US accuses of serving as an intermediary in these purchases, and Mustad Limited, also based in this city, accused of helping the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran buy weapons,” complete the English-language media.
The Chinese exports are performing well
As all media outlets reporting on these sanctions emphasize, they come at a delicate time for US-China relations. In fact, “Trump is preparing to leave Washington for a state visit to China,” which is expected to take place on May 14 and 15, notes the Financial Times. The US president is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in what would be “only their second meeting,” according to the British media. Will this summit be an opportunity to discuss the Iranian issue? In any case, the New York Times analyzes, “China’s support for Tehran has become a point of tension with the Trump administration, which is trying to compel independent Chinese refineries to stop buying Iranian oil, as Beijing is the largest buyer of Iranian crude.”
To date, it is difficult to know what topics will be discussed by the two most powerful leaders on the planet, but one thing is certain. Xi Jinping will not arrive at this summit in a position of weakness. In fact, as explained in another article from the Financial Times, “Chinese exports surged by 14.1% in April compared to the same month last year,” according to official information provided by Beijing on May 9. This proves that “US tariffs have not really succeeded in slowing down the Chinese export machine,” concludes the economic media.
