The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a complaint against
China based Suirui Group’s acquisition of California’s Jupiter Systems based on
national security concerns. According to
the press release, this is the first time an action like this has been filed. The Press Release states:
Yesterday, the United States filed a complaint under
section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to enforce a presidential
order prohibiting Suirui Group’s acquisition, through Suirui International, of
California-based Jupiter Systems and compelling Suirui to divest from Jupiter
Systems. On July 8, 2025, the President issued the Order based on his findings
that the transaction “threatens to impair the national security of the United
States.” This is the first such action ever filed in federal district court.
While foreign direct investment is important to the United
States’ economy, foreign investment in certain companies and certain
industries, particularly those involved in defense or critical infrastructure,
can pose national security concerns. To address these concerns, the President
has the authority to take such action for such time as the President considers
appropriate to suspend or prohibit such a transaction that threatens to impair
the national security of the United States. The Committee on Foreign Investment
in the United States (CFIUS) is empowered to review and investigate such
transactions.
According to the Complaint, in 2020, Suirui Group, a Chinese
company, through its Hong Kong subsidiary Suirui International, acquired all of
Jupiter Systems, which provides video communications hardware and software to
commercial and U.S. Government customers. On July 8, 2025, the President issued
an Order prohibiting the transaction and, among other things, requiring Suirui
to divest all its interests in Jupiter Systems within 120 days. According to
the Complaint, despite CFIUS granting two extensions of the divestment
deadline, to Feb. 3, Suirui and Jupiter Systems have failed to comply with the
Order. The United States thus filed this action to protect the country’s
national security interests.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Federal Programs
Branch is handling the matter. The case is captioned United
States v. Suirui Group Co., Ltd., et al., No. 26-cv-00369 (D.D.C.). . . .
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