The US has announced sanctions against Chinese and Belarusian companies supplying missile technology to Pakistan. China is the main supplier of weapons and defence equipment to Pakistan’s military modernisation programme.
The US State Department announced sanctions against three companies based in China and one from Belarus for supplying missile-applicable products for Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, including its long-range missile programme. The companies are Xi’an Longde Technology Development, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade and Granpect Co. Ltd and Minsk Wheel Tractor Factory from Belarus.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing on Friday that the companies are engaged in activities that materially contribute to, or risk materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery, including efforts by Pakistan to produce, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such materials.
Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant supplies special vehicle chassis for Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme. These chassis are used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is responsible for the development of Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles, according to a Foreign Ministry Fact Sheet.
Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited supplied missile-related equipment to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme, including a filament winding machine, which we assess is intended for the NDC. Filament winding machines can be used to produce rocket motor cases.
Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd supplied missile-related equipment to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile programme, including mixing welding equipment (which the United States assessed could be used to manufacture propellant tanks used in space launch vehicles) and a linear accelerator system (which the United States assessed could be used to inspect solid rocket motors). Tianjin Creative’s purchases were probably intended for the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which develops and manufactures Pakistan’s MTCR Category I ballistic missiles.
Granpect Co. worked with Pakistan’s SUPARCO to supply equipment for testing large-scale rocket engines. Granpect Co. Ltd. also worked with Pakistan’s NDC to supply equipment for testing large diameter rocket engines.
