The Biden administration has imposed trade sanctions on several Chinese companies and institutions, citing national security and China’s oppression of its largely Muslim Uighur minority population.
The US Commerce Department says that it was blacklisting a number of Chinese technology companies, accusing the government in Beijing of advancing high-tech surveillance on the Uighurs.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo says the scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives.
The secretary added that unfortunately, the People’s Republic of China is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups.