U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Chinese Suppliers To Pakistan's Ballistic Missile Program

The U.S. State Department on September 12 imposed sanctions on a Chinese research institute and several companies it said have been involved in supplying Pakistan's ballistic missile program. The Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry worked with Pakistan to procure equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel systems and potentially for larger systems, the State Department said in a statement. The action also targeted the China-based firms Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Company, Universal Enterprise, and Xi'an Longde Technology Development Company, the Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment, and a Chinese national for knowingly transferring restricted missile technology. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said Beijing “firmly opposes unilateral sanctions.”