The Biden administration imposes curbs on Chinese entities collaborating with Pakistani partners.
New Delhi
In an indication of the dangers posed by the military alliance between China and Pakistan, the Joe Biden administration has imposed restrictions on Chinese entities that were collaborating with their Pakistani partners to provide supersonic and hypersonic missiles.
On 12 June 2023, a total of 43 companies were sanctioned by the US government for reasons of national security. Of these, 31 are Chinese and four Pakistani entities. The Pakistani entities that have been sanctioned for being a part of this network include, Affiliates International (9 Timber Pond, Keamari P.O. Box 13139, Karachi,), Akhtar and Sons Private Limited (Emerald Tower, Main Clifton Road, Karachi), Imminent Engineering Company (Farhan Arcade, G-11 Markaz, Islamabad) and Quantum Logix (Private) Limited (Plot No 22, Sector H-9, Islamabad).
The Chinese entities that have been sanctioned for enriching Pakistan’s missile system include Changzhou Utek Composite Company (Fuhanyuan 1-812, New North District, Changzhou, 213022, Jiangsu), Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Company (Room 903, Building 1, No. 4 Wangjing Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing), General Technology Limited (68 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong), Tiger Force Electronics Limited (4th Floor, Building C Intl Career Parking, 2 Xinxi Road, Shangdi, Beijing and Unit 615, 6/F, 11 Hoi Shing Road, Tsuen Wan, N.T., Hong Kong), Universal Enterprise Limited (88 To kwa wan road, Kowloon, Hong Kong; and 1102A, 11/F New Lee Wah Center, Kowloon, Hong Kong and Unit 2222-23 22/F, Siu Lek Yuen, Shatin, Hong Kong and 4 Wangjing Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing), and Qianpu Technology Company (that has 11 aliases and multiple addresses) for their significant contribution to certain advanced conventional weapons and strategic weapons capabilities in Pakistan.
The announcement came just days after China delivered two newly built Type 054A/P frigates, namely the PNS Tippu Sultan and the PNS Shahjahan in May this year. The frigates carry China’s CM-302 surface-to-surface supersonic missiles and Pakistan’s P-282 anti-ship hypersonic missiles. According to officials, the CM-302 missile is an export version of the hypersonic missile YJ-21.
While Pakistan is struggling to keep its economy afloat, it is spending generously to buy arms and ammunition from China, much of which is paid for from the international aid that it receives from multiple global agencies. It is precisely because of this reason that the International Monetary Fund is reluctant to release the financial support that Pakistan is desperately seeking.
Significantly, the Biden administration also blacklisted three South African flight schools for allegedly training Chinese Air Force pilots by retired Western military aviators. Among those who have been sanctioned include the Test Flying Academy of South Africa and its offices in South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, UAE and the United Kingdom. Also sanctioned was AVIC International Flight Training Academy and Western Cape Town-based Pearl Coral. These entities, as per officials, were providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources.
The Sunday Guardian in October last year has brought out the details of Test Flying Academy of South Africa and AVIC International Flight Training Academy training Chinese military aircraft pilots (Companies based in the US, UK, Canada, NZ, France boost Chinese air capabilities).