US Sanctions 3 Chinese Companies Supplying Ballistic Missile Tech To Pakistan

The US government has imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies and one from Belarus for secretly supplying missile-applicable items for Pakistan’s ballistic missile programmes.  According to the US State Department, these companies are Xi’an Longde Technology Development, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade and Granpect Co. Ltd from China and Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant from Belarus.

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,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Friday.

China, an all-weather ally of Pakistan is also supplying arms and defence equipment to Islamabad. The Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant in Belarus supplied special vehicle chassis to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme.

China’s Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd,  Limited, supplied missile-related equipment for use in Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme.

In addition, Granpect Co. Ltd. also supplied equipment for testing large-diameter rocket motors to Pakistan.