The US State Department imposed sanctions on Thursday on a Chinese research institute and several companies it accused of supplying Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
In a similar move, Washington had sanctioned three China-based companies in October 2023 for providing missile-related items to Pakistan.
According to department spokesperson Matthew Miller, the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry collaborated with Pakistan to acquire equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems, and potentially for larger ones.
The sanctions also targeted China-based companies Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co, along with Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese individual, for knowingly transferring restricted missile technology equipment, Miller stated.
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“These actions show that the United States will continue to address proliferation and related procurement activities, wherever they take place,” Miller added.
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington, criticized the sanctions, saying, “China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and extraterritorial jurisdiction that lack a basis in international law or authorization from the UN Security Council.”
Liu emphasized that China would “vigorously defend” the rights and interests of its companies and citizens. The Pakistani embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Last year, the US also imposed sanctions on three China-based companies accused of supplying missile-related items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. The State Department named the companies as General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd, and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd.
General Technology was involved in supplying brazing materials used in ballistic missile rocket engines and the production of combustion chambers, while Beijing Luo Luo provided mandrels and other machinery used in the manufacturing of solid-propellant rocket motors, according to the US.
The third company, Changzhou Utek Composite, had been supplying D-glass fiber, quartz fabric, and high silica cloth since 2019, materials with applications in missile systems.
“These actions reflect the United States’ commitment to counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related procurement activities, wherever they may occur,” the State Department said at the time.
