US imposes sanctions on Chinese entities supporting Pakistan's ballistic missile programme

The United States Department of State announced on Thursday that it is imposing sanctions on a Chinese institute and several other companies that have been involved in supplying crucial resources to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme. The State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Washington is imposing sanctions on the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building (RIAMB) Industry.

Miller noted that the institute has worked with Pakistan to procure equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems and potentially for larger systems. “The Department of State is taking action against five entities and one individual that have been involved in the proliferation of ballistic missiles and controlled missile equipment and technology,” Miller said in the statement.

“RIAMB has worked with Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC) –which the United States assesses is involved in the development and production of Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missiles – to procure equipment for testing of large diameter rocket motors, including the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel, but also potentially for larger systems,” he added.

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The US keeps a close eye on Pakistan’s missile programme

The State Department also imposed sanctions on China-based firms Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co, alongside Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment for being involved in the transfer of equipment that are under the missile technology restrictions.

“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.

According to Dawn News, this is not the first time the US imposed sanctions on Chinese firms for facilitating Pakistan’s missile programme. In October 2023, the US imposed sanctions on three China-based companies for supplying missile-applicable items to Pakistan. Both China and Pakistan have yet to comment on the matter.

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Pakistan’s rift with US 

In April this year, Pakistan’s foreign office called out the US for imposing sanctions on three Chinese entities and one firm from Belarus for supplying equipment to the Pakistani missile programme. At that time, Pakistan rejected the sanctions and called it a “political use of export controls”.

“We reject political use of export controls. It is well known that the same jurisdictions, which claim strict adherence to non-proliferation controls, have waived off licensing requirements for advanced military technologies for some countries,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at that time.

“Such discriminatory approaches and double standards” undermine the credibility of non-proliferation regimes and also the objectives of regional and global peace and security by “accentuating military asymmetries,” she added.

It is important to note that these sanctions are being imposed under Executive Order 13382. Under the order, all property and interests in property of the designated entities that are in the United States or under the control of US persons are now blocked. Not only this but any individual or entity with ownership, directly and indirectly of 50 per cent or more is also subject to these sanctions.