China denies aiding Iran's missile programme
Dated 17/6/2006
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Beijing: China's space giant today opposed US' move to freeze the firm's assets on its soil and denounced as "groundless" Washington's accusations that it aided Iran's missile programme.
The state-run China Great Wall Industry Corp (CGWIC) said it is against the move by the US to freeze its assets on "groundless" allegations that it provided support to Iran's missile programme.
"On June 13, 2006, the US Department of the Treasury designated the CGWIC in the list of entities whose assets in the US are blocked on account of so called CGWIC's provision of support to Iran's missile programme," the company said in a statement.
"The CGWIC hereby expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this action," it said, adding "The CGWIC has never rendered assistance to any country for any weapon of mass destruction programme."
It claimed the company is engaged in business for the peaceful application of space technology.
"It is simply unreasonable that the US Government alleged the CGWIC engaging in proliferation activities and imposed sanction, pursuant to its domestic laws, on the CGWIC, a company working for the well-being of the people," it said.
"The CGWIC strongly demands that the U.S. Government make correction to its wrong action, remove the CGWIC from the assets to be blocked list and compensate all CGWIC losses," the Chinese company said.
"In addition, the CGWIC reserves the rights to hold the US Government accountable for its responsibilities by taking various measures including legal means," the statement added.
