The Trump administration continues to squeeze both China and Iran, its favorite whipping boys, imposing new economic sanctions on both countries only five days before it becomes history.
President Donald Trump on Friday ordered federal government agencies to minimize the procurement of Chinese goods and services to reduce the risks from Chinese spying and minimize Chinese attempts to infiltrate U.S. IT networks.
Also on the same day, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on companies in Iran, China and the United Arab Emirates that did business with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines Group (IRISL). One of Iran's largest shipping companies, IRISL was previously sanctioned by both the United Nations and the European Union for its role in assisting Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile development programs.
National security adviser Robert O'Brien accused China of targeting the information systems of the U.S. federal government to gain unlawful access to personnel records, military plans, and other data through hacking, espionage and other means such as human spying.
"For this reason, the United States must take corresponding actions to protect American interests," said O'Brien in defending the new sanctions.
"We must adjust our regulations and policies and take other necessary actions to reduce the risk of PRC (People's Republic of China) technical and human espionage activities directed at the Federal Government," he said.
He revealed a Trump order that government agencies conduct reviews "to minimize the procurement of People's Republic of China (PRC) goods and services by the Federal Government."
"Anything having to do with Chinese companies that are going to have kit components in our network could potentially become a vulnerability that could be used to continue China's military-civil fusion strategy," according to O'Brien.
"If there's hardware, for example, that would make its way into our networks, that's the sort of stuff that could pose a potential vulnerability."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. had sanctioned seven companies, including Chinese-based Jiangyin Mascot Special Steel Co., and two people for shipping steel to and from Iran.
Pompeo said he was also increasing the scope of metals-related sanctions against Iran. He said those who knowingly transfer 15 materials the State Department claims are used in Iran's nuclear, military and ballistic missile programs, including certain types of aluminum and steel, will be subject to sanctions.
Pompeo said Iran's Marine Industries Organization, Aerospace Industries Organization and the Iran Aviation Industries Organization had also been blacklisted over conventional arms proliferation.
