On Thursday, the US State Department imposed sanctions on a Chinese research institute and several companies it said were involved in supplying Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
Likewise, Washington targeted three China-based companies with sanctions in October 2023 for supplying materials that could be used in missile manufacturing to Pakistan.
Ministry spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement that the Beijing Machinery Building Industry Automation Research Institute worked with Pakistan to purchase equipment to test missile engines for the Shaheen 3 and Ababil systems and possibly for larger systems.
Miller said the sanctions also targeted China-based companies such as 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 moving equipment under missile technology restrictions.
“As today’s actions demonstrate, the United States will continue to act against the proliferation of nuclear weapons and related procurement activities, wherever they occur,” Miller said.
“China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and long-term jurisdiction that have no basis in international law or authorization from the UN Security Council,” said Liu Bingyu, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
He added that China will “firmly protect” the rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals.