Mystery over purpose of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation’s new lab

The company, which is heavily involved in missile development, has provided few details about the new facility in Beijing

The state-owned firm was sanctioned by the US over unspecified ‘missile technology proliferation activities’ earlier this year

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The company plays a role in China’s space programme. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:13pm, 2 Jul 2022Updated: 8:08pm, 2 Jul 2022

A key player in China’s plans to develop spacecraft and missiles has opened a new laboratory in Beijing.

The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, which was sanctioned by the United States for engaging in unspecified “missile technology proliferation activities” in January, made the announcement on Friday.

The state-owned company did not give details, but said in social media posts that the lab has opened and started trials, and that its chairman Yuan Jie and vice-chairman Liu Zuoping attended the opening ceremony.

It did not say for what purpose the new lab had been built.

The company is heavily involved in China’s missile development. The US sanctions – which were also imposed on China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation’s First Academy, Poly Technologies and their subsidiaries – bans the companies from US government contracts and exporting and importing technologies in and out of the US.

The US State Department did not specify what activities the three companies were involved in, but said the sanctions were imposed over missile technology proliferation that violated the Arms Export Control Act and Export Administration Act of 1979.