The Trump administration designated five Chinese media companies “official government entities” on Tuesday.

This means that the company and their employees must register U.S. with the State Department under the Foreign Missions Act.

“Entities designated as foreign missions must adhere to certain administrative requirements that also apply to foreign embassies and consulates in the United States,” according to State Department documents obtained by Fox News. “At this time, they must inform the State Department of their personnel rosters as well as their real estate holdings.”

The Hill reports that “the media outlets designated by the U.S. as “foreign missions” include Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily Distribution Corporation and Hai Tian Development USA. All are considered controlled by or mouthpieces for the government.”

On Saturday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper referred to China as a growing threat at an international security.

“The Chinese Communist Party is heading even faster and further in the wrong direction – more internal repression, more predatory economic practices, more heavy-handedness, and most concerning for me, a more aggressive military posture,” Esper said.

“While we often doubt the transparency and forthrightness of Beijing, when it comes to their security aims, we should take the Chinese government at its word. They have said that by 2035, the PRC intends to complete its military modernization, and, by 2049, it seeks to dominate Asia as the preeminent global military power,” he added.

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