Washington, D.C.

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Amid rising tensions with China after the trilateral summit, the US Commerce Department took action against four Chinese companies for allegedly helping the Chinese military.

The blacklisted companies include Linkzol (Beijing) Technology Co, Xi'an Like Innovative Information Technology Co, Beijing Anwise Technology Co, and SITONHOLY (Tianjin) Co. Commerce Department. The US has added a total of 11 companies to Commerce Department Entity List this week. This means they won't be able to access American goods and technology.

The US Commerce Department accused all four companies of giving artificial intelligence (AI) chips to the Chinese military to aid its progress. This is part of the US government's attempt to prevent critical American technology from being used by the military in China.

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How did China respond to it?

China, on the other hand, refuted the allegations and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning denounced them as attempts to "contain and suppress" Chinese companies. China promised to take "necessary steps" to protect its interests.

Also read: China asks Philippines to 'stop provocations' if it wants to 'ease tensions'

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Five other firms were also subject to export restrictions by the US, which said they were supporting drone manufacture in response to Iran's assaults in the Red Sea and Russia's strikes in Ukraine. 

China sanctions US defence firms 

Earlier this week, China barred top officials from two US defence companies from visiting the country and froze their assets in reaction to their arms sales to Taiwan.

The sanctions took effect on Thursday and targeted General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, that produces unmanned aerial systems, and General Dynamics Land Systems, a subsidiary of General Dynamics.

China said that the arms sales "seriously interferes" in its internal affairs and "damages" its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The continued sale of arms by the United States to China's Taiwan region is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three joint communiqués of the United States and China," the statement added.

(With inputs from agencies)