The US State Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Chinese research institute and several companies that it said have been involved in supplying Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
Washington also targeted three China-based companies with sanctions in October 2023 for supplying missile-related items to Pakistan.
Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement that Beijing’s Machine Building Industry Automation Research Institute had worked with Pakistan to acquire equipment to test rocket engines for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems and potentially for larger systems.
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 national, for knowingly transferring equipment under technology restrictions of missiles, Miller said.
“As today’s actions demonstrate, the United States will continue to act against proliferation and associated acquisition activities of concern, wherever they occur,” Miller said.
Liu Pengyu, spokesman for China’s embassy in Washington, said: “China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and far-reaching jurisdiction that have no basis in international law or authorization from the UN Security Council.”
China will “firmly protect” the rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals, he added.
