Will US Sanctions Impair Proliferation-fueling Procurement Networks?

By Zeeshan Javaid

New York: At the same time that tensions between Iran and Israel drove a wedge between the world’s two halves, the United States recently targeted three Chinese and one Belarusian company for allegedly supplying missile-related materials to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, igniting yet another front in the region’s ongoing cold war with China.

The US is committed to disrupting procurement networks that let proliferation-related activities expand, as part of its efforts to improve the global nonproliferation system.

The US has taken action against three China-based companies and one from Belarus for their involvement in supplying missile-related materials to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long-range missile program, according to the State Department.Accusations Dismissed: U.S. Diplomat Refutes Role in Imran Khan’s Removal

Due to the stern action taken by the United States, as mandated by Executive Order 13382, any assets and ownership rights of the individuals mentioned above, located within the United States or under the possession or control of U.S. individuals, are being frozen.

Furthermore, any person or businesses that own ownership, whether directly or indirectly, of 50 percent or more by one or more individuals whose assets have been frozen is also subject to being banned.

Any transactions conducted by individuals who are citizens or residents of the United States, or transactions that occur inside the United States and include any assets or rights to assets of individuals who have been identified as blocked or restricted, are not allowed unless they have been granted permission via a general or special license issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) or are exempt from these restrictions.

These restrictions include the act of making any contribution or providing finances, goods, or services to, for, or in favor of any person or entity that is subject to a blockage.

Additionally, it includes the act of receiving any contribution or supply of funds, goods, or services from such individuals or entities. In accordance with Presidential Proclamation 8693, the United States has temporarily halted the admission of certain persons.

The efficacy and moral soundness of U.S. Government sanctions stem not just from the U.S. government’s capacity to identify and include individuals in the Specially Designated Nationals list.

The SDN List is known not just for including Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, but also for its adherence to the law in removing individuals from the list.

On April 19, State Department officially classified four organizations in accordance with Executive Order 13382, which specifically focused on individuals or groups involved in the spread of weapons capable of causing widespread damage and the methods they use to distribute them.

The US believed that four firms, three located in the People’s Republic of China and one in Belarus, provided missile-related materials to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programs, particularly its long-range missile program.

The entities US identified, namely Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant; Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited; Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd; and Granpect Co. Ltd allegedly involved in activities or transactions that had significantly contributed to spread of weapons of mass destruction or the means to deliver them.

A communiqué issued by the State Department stated that the United States, in collaboration with other partners, is dedicated to enhancing the global nonproliferation system by discouraging and halting the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) networks, regardless of their location.

According to the States Department, the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, located in Belarus, provided a unique vehicle chassis to support Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile development.

These chassis served as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles developed by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is responsible for the development of Category-I ballistic missiles under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

The fact sheet of the States Department maintained that the Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, located in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), provided missile-related equipment, such as a filament winding machine, to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile development.

The documents further revealed that the Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd, based in China, provided Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program with equipment related to missiles. This included stir welding equipment, which the United States believed could be utilized to produce propellant tanks for space launch vehicles, as well as a linear accelerator system, and to inspect solid rocket motors.

Tianjin Creative’s acquisitions were probably intended for Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which is responsible for the development and production of Pakistan’s MTCR Category-I ballistic missiles.

State Department said in its document that another Chinese company, Granpect Company Limited, collaborated with Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) to provide technology for the testing of rocket motors with huge diameters.

Furthermore, Granpect Co. Ltd. also endeavored to provide Pakistan’s NDC with equipment for testing rocket motors of significant diameter.

Pakistan’s foreign office stressed that these activities have the effect of augmenting the stockpiling of weapons, exacerbating regional inequalities, and undermining the objectives of global peace and security.

The spokesperson of Pakistan’s foreign office said that the government lacks knowledge of the details of the recent development. However, there have been several other instances when lists were established based solely on suspicion.