U.S. adds Chinese genetics company units to trade blacklist

March 2 (Reuters) – The Biden administration on Thursday added a unit of prominent Chinese genetics company BGI Genomics Co Ltd to a trade blacklist, accusing the firms of posing a significant risk of contributing to monitoring and surveillance by the government of China, which has been utilized in the repression of ethnic minorities in China.

The Commerce Department, Hk Live Draw which oversees export controls, added BGI Tech Solutions (Hongkong), as well as BGI Research and Forensic Genomics International, which belong to BGI Group, the parent of BGI Genomics Co Ltd. In 2020, the Commerce Department added two units of BGI Group, the world´s largest genomics company, to its economic blacklist over allegations of conducting genetic analyses used to further the repression of China´s minority Uighurs has denied wrongdoing. BGI denied allegations of wrongdoing in 2020. (Reporting by Alex Alper and David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Howard Goller)

US adds units of China’s BGI, Inspur to trade blacklist

By Alexandra Alper and David Shepardson

March 2 (Reuters) – The Biden administration on Thursday added 37 companies to a trade blacklist, including a unit of Chinese genetics company BGI Genomics Co Ltd. and Chinese cloud computing firm Inspur, in a move that promises to further ratchet up tensions with Beijing.

The Commerce Department, which oversees export controls, added BGI Tech Solutions (Hongkong), as well as BGI Research and Forensic Genomics International, which belong to BGI Group, the parent of BGI Genomics Co Ltd, over allegations that the units pose a “significant risk” to contributing to Chinese government surveillance.

“The actions of these entities concerning the collection and analysis of genetic data present a significant risk of diversion to China’s military programs,” it said.

Reuters previously reported BGI was collecting genetic data from millions of women for sweeping research on the traits of populations, and collaborates with China’s military.

The Commerce Department accused Inspur of acquiring and attempting to acquire U.S. goods to support China’s military modernization efforts.

The companies and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Commerce added 26 other Chinese entities to the list – which makes it hard for targeted companies to receive shipments of U.S. goods from suppliers.

The additions included several entities Commerce said were supplying or attempting to supply a sanctioned entity in Iran, and three firms in Russia, Belarus and Taiwan that Commerce said were contributing to Russia’s military.

It also targeted companies in China and Myanmar for violations of human rights, and went after companies in China and Pakistan for contributing to ballistic missile programs of concern, including Pakistan’s.

“When we identify entities that pose a national security or foreign policy concern for the United States, we add them to the Entity List to ensure we can scrutinize their transactions,” Assistant Commerce Secretary Thea Kendler said in a statement.

The latest additions to the trade black list are likely to further escalate ill will between Washington and Beijing, which have been locked in a technology war for years.

Tensions have been especially high since the Biden administration last month shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had crossed a broad swath of the United States.

“We cannot allow our adversaries to misuse and abuse technology to commit human rights abuses and other acts of oppression,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod.”That´s why we´re committed to preventing bad actors from siphoning off our technology.We will take an all-tools approach to combat this threat.”

In 2020, the Commerce Department added two units of BGI Group, the world´s largest genomics company, to its economic blacklist over allegations it conducted genetic analyses used to further the repression of China´s minority Uyghurs.

Beijing has denied wrongdoing. BGI denied allegations of wrongdoing at the time. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper and David Shepardson; additional reporting by Andrea Shalal, live Draw Hk Costas Pitas and Kirsty Needham; Editing by Leslie Adler, Deepa Babington and Lincoln Feast)

Hong Kong singer and activist Denise Ho says concerts cancelled

HONG KONG, Sept 1 (Reuters) – Hong Kong singer and activist Denise Ho said on Wednesday an arts organisation has cancelled her concerts due to be held this month, further stoking worries over artistic freedoms in the former British colony.

In a statement on Twitter, Ho’s company Goomusic Ltd said the decision was based on a contract clause that cited circumstances where “public order or public safety would be endangered” as a result of the performance or hiring of venue.

The Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC), which describes itself as an independent multi-arts centre that offers exhibitions, screenings and performances, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tech N9ne Stock PhotoThe cancellation comes days after pro-Beijing newspapers accused Ho, a vocal supporter of anti-government protests in 2019, of colluding with foreign powers to undermine China and the former British colony.

In 2019, at the height of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Ho, who is banned in China, told the U.N. Human Rights Council website in a speech in Geneva that the city’s freedoms were slipping away and urged international action. She then went to Washington website to urge the U.S. Congress for action as well.

Ho’s company posted on Twitter a letter it said it had received regarding the cancellation of her concerts, which was signed by HKAC’s “Venue Department.”

“The management of the Arts Centre is duty bound to observe closely the recent developments in society and the laws concerned,” the letter said, without elaborating.

Ho’s company said the cancellation came without any further explanation.

“We have thoroughly examined our released materials and show contents but could not see where or how this performance or hiring has the possibility to endanger, or will endanger, public order or safety,” Goomusic said.

“We doubt very much where the HKAC is heading and how they are going to face the public in the future.”

Under a national security law Beijing imposed on Hong Kong last year, nearly every corner of society has come under scrutiny. Authorities have arrested activists, detained newspaper editors, rewritten school curriculums, Live Draw Hk Hari Ini banned some books and protest slogans, and censored films.

Ho’s company said it reserved the right to take legal action and claim all losses and damages. (Reporting By Jessie Pang and Sara Cheng; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Michael Perry)