WASHINGTON – The Biden administration added a dozen Chinese companies to its trade blacklist on Wednesday citing national security as well as foreign policy concerns.

For their role in supporting the Chinese military in quantum computing, eight technology entities located in China were included in this list.

U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese companies are beholden to the People’s Republic of China and collect sensitive information on behalf of the People’s Liberation Army. The Chinese Communist Party previously stated that they do not participate in industrial spying. 

Commerce Department listed 16 persons and entities that were involved in Pakistan and China’s ballistic and nuclear missile programs. The Biden administration has added 27 individuals and entities to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Pakistan, Russia and Japan.

In a statement, Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary for Commerce, stated that global trade and commerce must support peace, prosperity and well-paying jobs and not national security threats. “The Department of Commerce will use export controls effectively to ensure our national security.

CNBC reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington for clarification but they did not respond immediately.