New Delhi: Even as India said that it has conveyed concerns to Beijing about a Chinese vessel carrying a ‘dual use’ item to Pakistan, Chinese foreign ministry denied that the item was mis-declared or had both civilian and military applications as per its non-proliferation export control regime.
On February 3, a Chinese vessel, ‘Da Cui Yan’ was detained in Kandla port by Indian customs. It was on its way to Pakistan.
“Our authorities had detained a Chinese vessel ‘Da Cui Yan’ when it berthed in Kandla Port in early February, as it had mis-declared the item that is was carrying. Our examination has revealed that the item is an ‘autoclave’ that is controlled under our Dual Use Export Control lists,” said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Thursday.
The vessel was allowed to leave after the item was seized by Indian authorities as per legal procedure, according to Kumar.
“It has also been ascertained by our examination that this item has military applications,” said Indian foreign ministry spokesperson at the weekly media briefing.
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The Hindustan Times had reported on Wednesday that autoclave had been declared by the Chinese vessel as an industrial dryer. The report had stated that Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) experts confirmed that an industrial autoclave seized from the Chinese ship could be used for the manufacture of very long-range ballistic missiles or satellite launch rockets.
India has informed China that the item was being carried in violation of non-proliferation export controls. “We have conveyed our concerns on this issue to the Chinese side and have highlighted that as a friendly country the Chinese government will take appropriate measures to ensure that the Chinese entities do not engage in activities that can contribute to proliferation.”
In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry has dismissed India’s claims that the item was an autoclave that could be used for military purposes.
“We have learned that the cargo involved is actually a heat-treating furnace shell system made by a private Chinese company. It is by no means a piece of military equipment or a dual-use item covered by China’s non-proliferation export control regime,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian.
He asserted that the Chinese owner of the ship had declared the item “truthfully beforehand with the Indian authorities in charge, so there is no concealment or false declaration”. Zhao also added that China “faithfully fulfils its international non-proliferation obligations and commitments”.