MSN : #China #satellite industry often blurs the line between commercial and state companies, U.S. officials and analysts say, because even ostensibly private companies operate under extensive government oversight, and many have links to the government or the Chinese Communist Party.

Story by Anika Arora Seth,
Shelby Holliday,
Vera Bergengruen
MSN

In May, the Trump #administration sanctioned three Chinese companies—MizarVision, Earth Eye and Chang Guang—that it said were providing, collecting or publishing imagery that #Iran could use to target U.S. forces. State Department officials last year accused Chang Guang of providing satellite imagery that directly supported attacks by #Yemen s Iran-backed #Houthis, calling the support “unacceptable.”

The administration has briefed lawmakers on the #intelligence committees in recent weeks on the support both #Russia and #China are providing to #Iran, according to congressional officials.