US launches "wing lock" on Chinese military pilots

Specifically, Reuters said the Biden administration has added 43 entities to the export control list, including Frontier Services Group Ltd, a security and aviation company formerly run by Erik Prince.

The Test Flight Academy of South Africa (TFASA), a flight school that has been under investigation by British authorities, was also added to the US Commerce Department's control list for recruiting former British military pilots to train Chinese military pilots.

Companies on the list are restricted from receiving US exports because of activities deemed contrary to Washington's interests.

The new "blacklist" also includes many aviation companies and flight academies such as Frontier Services in China, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)... Along with TFASA units in South Africa, China, the UAE, the UK and entities of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in China and South Africa.

"Of the 43 new entities added to the US sanctions list, 31 are from China. The Chinese entities are mainly active in the fields of electronics, telecommunications, and computers, headquartered in Shanghai and Beijing. Nine Chinese and Pakistani enterprises believed to have supported Pakistan's ballistic missile development program are also on this list," Reuters said.

Mỹ tung đòn khóa cánh phi công quân sự Trung Quốc - Ảnh 1.

A Chinese pilot flies a fighter jet during a military exercise in April. Photo: South China Morning Post

In addition to recruiting former Western pilots to train Chinese military pilots, the entities on the sanctions list are also accused of purchasing US-origin goods to support China's military modernization and jeopardize US security.

The US move comes after several Western governments received information that Beijing has been secretly recruiting foreign pilots to train pilots for the Chinese air force.

China has denied all of the allegations and has said it was unaware of training programs involving former foreign pilots. Representatives of the entities sanctioned by the US have not commented on the matter.

This is not the first time the US has imposed sanctions on Chinese companies. In response, Beijing has repeatedly asserted that US measures are illegal and ineffective.