BREAKING: Trump to Add China's SMIC and CNOOC to Defense Blacklist

Photo: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is poised to add China's top chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) and national offshore oil and gas producer, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to a blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies, according to a document and sources, curbing their access to U.S. investors and escalating tensions with Beijing weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

Reuters reported earlier this month that the Department of Defense was planning to designate four more Chinese companies as owned or controlled by the Chinese military, bringing the number of Chinese companies affected to 35.

It was not immediately clear when the new tranche, would be published in the Federal Register. But the list comprises China Construction Technology Co Ltd and China International Engineering Consulting Corp, in addition to SMIC and CNOOC, according to the document and three sources.

The Defense Department (DOD) did not respond to a request for comment.

The move, coupled with similar policies, is seen as seeking to cement outgoing Republican President Donald Trump's tough-on-China legacy and to box incoming Democrat Biden into hardline positions on Beijing amid bipartisan anti-China sentiment in Congress.

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