US Cracks Down On Chinese Firms Fuelling Pakistan's Long-Range Ballistic Missile Ambitions

The United States has announced sanctions against three companies based in China and one in Belarus for their involvement in providing missile-applicable items to Pakistan, specifically targeting Islamabad's ballistic missile programme, including long-range missiles.

The US State Department named the companies as Xi'an Longde Technology Development, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade, and Granpect Co. Ltd from China, along with the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant from Belarus.

"We are designating four entities pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These entities – three based in the People’s Republic of China and one in Belarus – have supplied missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programs, including its long-range missile progra," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

According to Miller, these entities have engaged in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery, including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by Pakistan.

Miller added that the US, in close cooperation with other partners, is committed to strengthening the global nonproliferation regime by deterring and disrupting proliferation networks of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) wherever they occur.

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