Foreign Office Calls US Sanctions on Chinese Firms ‘Politically Motivated’

US Sanctions

ISLAMABAD: On Saturday, Pakistan strongly criticized Washington for its “double standards” in sanctioning Chinese firms allegedly linked to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.

The Pakistani Foreign Office (FO), through its spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, rejected the sanctions as “biased and politically motivated,” arguing that these measures were part of a broader, unjustified campaign. Baloch condemned the sanctions, stating that in the past, companies had been penalized “based on mere suspicion” without any concrete evidence.

She emphasized that such actions were not in line with global non-proliferation norms and that some nations had selectively enforced these standards to benefit their favored allies. Although she did not mention any specific countries, her remarks were seen as an indirect reference to the United States and its allies.

“It is widely known that some countries, while claiming strict adherence to non-proliferation norms, have conveniently waived licensing requirements for advanced military technologies to their favored states,” Baloch said.

She further pointed out that such “double standards” undermine the credibility of global non-proliferation regimes, contribute to increasing military asymmetries, and pose risks to international peace and security.

Earlier this week, the US State Department imposed sanctions on several Chinese firms and a research institute for allegedly supplying equipment for Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.

The targeted entities included the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry, Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise, and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co.

Washington accused the Beijing Research Institute of working with Pakistan to acquire equipment for testing rocket motors for the Shaheen-3 and Ababeel missile systems, with possible involvement in developing larger missile systems.

These sanctions were part of an ongoing effort by the US to curb missile proliferation, particularly in Pakistan. In October 2023, Washington similarly sanctioned three China-based companies for supplying missile-related items to Pakistan. The sanctions not only affected these Chinese firms but also targeted Pakistan-based Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, Pakistan and China engaged in the 9th Round of Bilateral Consultations on Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Islamabad on Friday.

The discussions were led by Ambassador Tahir Andrabi, the Director General of Arms Control and Disarmament at Pakistan’s Foreign Office, and Sun Xiaobo, the Director General of Arms Control at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two delegations exchanged views on a wide range of topics, including arms control, non-proliferation, global and regional security, emerging technologies such as cyber security and artificial intelligence, and cooperation in outer space.

They also reviewed the agendas of key multilateral forums like the UN General Assembly, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and other disarmament treaties.

Additionally, Sun Xiaobo met with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch, where they highlighted the importance of maintaining regular exchanges and consultations on arms control and non-proliferation between the two nations.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working together in these areas, stressing the need for continued cooperation on nuclear technology and disarmament.

This round of consultations between Pakistan and China further solidified their long-standing partnership, particularly in the context of arms control, non-proliferation, and regional security.

The FO’s statement on the talks reflected the close coordination between the two countries in addressing shared security concerns and advancing mutual interests in a rapidly evolving global landscape.