Sanctions for a Safer World

An escalating arms race between Pakistan and its longtime foe and neighbor, India, is something the world can well do without, especially since both countries have nuclear weapons. The Bush administration was smart to slap economic sanctions on a Chinese company it contends supplied missile parts and technology to Pakistan, violating an agreement with the United States.

The firm, China Metallurgical Equipment Corp., is an arms producer that U.S. officials say is little more than a front for the Chinese government. Both the company and the Pakistani government denied trading in missile technology, but Pakistan long has benefited from Chinese assistance in improving its military technology.

The Clinton administration also was concerned about exports of weapons technology but last year agreed not to punish China for shipping ballistic missile components to Iran and Pakistan after Beijing promised not to supply parts or know-how. President Bush’s team warned Beijing of possible sanctions if it did not halt technological cooperation with nations trying to develop their missile systems. Then it lowered the boom.

The sanctions stop U.S. firms from dealing with China Metallurgical and with the Chinese government for anything related to sensitive electronics and space systems. Included is a ban on launching most U.S. satellites on Chinese rockets; Washington officials say that will be a key blow to China’s satellite industry.

China still has time to change course on its technology exports before Bush’s visit next month, but if it does sensibly decide on a new path it will have to proffer more than just another easily broken promise.

The accidental bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade two years ago and this year’s emergency landing of a U.S. spy plane in China are just a couple of the many reasons relations between Washington and Beijing are difficult at the moment. The sanctions will not improve matters, but they should demonstrate that the United States has lost patience with those who would give nations the means to hurl nuclear weapons back and forth.