U.S. Department of Commerce issues subpoenas to Chinese communications companies to investigate whether they pose a national security threat

The U.S. Department of Commerce said Wednesday (17) that it has issued subpoenas to a number of Chinese companies that provide information and communications technology services in the United States to investigate whether they pose a national security risk to the United States.

In a statement, U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo said bluntly, “Beijing is engaging in behavior that undermines our technological advantage and threatens our allies.” The subpoena will collect information to enable the U.S. “to determine the possible actions that will best protect U.S. companies, U.S. workers, and U.S. national security.”

Raimondo’s statement did not mention any companies. During former U.S. President Donald Trump‘s presidency, he targeted China’s huawei and ZTE, removing them from the U.S. telecommunications infrastructure.