The US State Department, on Thursday, announced sanctions against a Chinese research institute and several companies that, according to it, have been involved in the supply of Pakistan's ballistic missile program. Washington similarly targeted three China-based companies with sanctions in October 2023 over the supply of missile-applicable items to Pakistan.
Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, in a statement, said the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry had worked with Pakistan on acquiring equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems - and possibly for larger systems.
Also targeted by the sanctions were Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise and Xi'an Longde Technology Development Co of China, Innovative Equipment of Pakistan, and a Chinese national, for knowingly transferring equipment subject to the missile technology restrictions, he said.
"As today's actions demonstrate, the United States will continue to act against proliferation and associated procurement activities of concern, wherever they occur," Miller said.
China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council," said Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, in a statement. China will "firmly protect" the rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals, Liu said. The Pakistan embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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