US imposes sanctions on Chinese suppliers to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program

The U.S. State Department on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Chinese research institute and several companies it said have been involved in supplying Pakistan's ballistic missile program.

Washington similarly targeted three China-based companies with sanctions in October 2023 for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan.

Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry had worked with Pakistan to procure equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems and potentially for larger systems.

The sanctions also targeted China-based firms Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, and Xi'an Longde Technology Development Co, alongside Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national, for knowingly transferring equipment under missile technology restrictions, Miller 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.

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington, said: "China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council."

China will "firmly protect" Chinese companies' and individuals' rights and interests, Liu said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, when asked to comment on the report, said they were ascertaining the details.

MOFA responds

In response to media inquiries regarding the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on commercial entities accused of links to Pakistan's ballistic missile program, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the following statement:

"Pakistan views this action as biased and politically motivated. Previous listings of commercial entities were often based on mere suspicion, involving items not covered by any export control regime, yet deemed sensitive under broad, catch-all provisions.

It is well known that some countries, while professing strict adherence to nonproliferation norms, have selectively waived licensing requirements for advanced military technologies to their favored allies. Such double standards and discriminatory practices undermine the integrity of global nonproliferation regimes, exacerbate military imbalances, and pose a threat to international peace and security."

'US' discriminatory policies'

Former ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, talking to Nukta, criticized the U.S. for continuing its "discriminatory" sanctions on missile issue, a policy she said has persisted for decades.

"This is now part of America's broader confrontation with China," Lodhi said, referencing a pattern of actions that include raising trade tariffs, sanctioning tech companies, and now targeting Chinese firms over missile allegations.

She also accused the U.S. of selectively enforcing these policies, claiming it transfers advanced missile technology to countries like Israel and India, while sanctioning others based on "flimsy evidence."