The U.S. Treasury Department on Oct. 18 added to its sanctions list a number of individuals and companies for their involvement in supporting Iran’s missile and drone projects. The new entrants are 11 individuals, eight entities, and one ship, from Iran, Venezuela, mainland China, and Hong Kong, involving three Hong Kong companies and one Hong Kong citizen.
The Epoch Times reporter went to the registered addresses of the concerned companies to verify but found that the relevant companies do not have a physical office in Hong Kong, and the company names were just posted in the business centers. In addition to Hong Kong, the other countries named on the new list are Iran, Venezuela, and mainland China. This is also not the first time that companies established in Hong Kong by proxies of mainland China have been sanctioned for doing business with Iran.
Among the individuals or companies on the sanction list is mainland China national Lin Jinghe (also known as Gary Lam, born in 1982). He is accused of using his Nanxigu Technology Co. Ltd. in Hong Kong to repeatedly purchase dual-use (civil and military) circulators, amplifiers, inductors, and other electronic parts produced in Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the UK for one Iranian purchasing agency called Alireza Matinkia (or just Matinkia).
Nanxigu Technology Co. Ltd. was established in March 2017. Its two registered addresses in Hong Kong are Room 223-06, Mega Cube, 8 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, and Room C, 23rd Floor, Lucky Plaza, Wan Chai. When the Epoch Times reporter checked on Oct. 21, it was found that the address at Mega Cube in Kowloon Bay belonged to a firm called “V&G Business Centre,” and no one answered the door there. Another address at Lucky Plaza in Wan Chai belongs to a secretarial service company, “168 Accountant Secretary Ltd.,” but no one answered the door either.
Moreover, Dali RF Technology Co. Ltd., headquartered in Hong Kong, was accused of receiving money transfers related to Mr. Lin’s procurement activities. The drone accessories and U.S.-origin aerospace parts purchased by Dali are also alleged to be used by Matinkia.
Dali RF Technology Co. Limited’s registered address is redirected to “Henry Law & Company,” and “Zhuorui Enterprise Management Consultancy Co. Ltd.” in Room 604, 6th Floor, Easey Commercial Building, Wan Chai. It shows that the three companies do not have physical offices in Hong Kong and are believed to be merely registered at business centers.
HK Individual Accused of Purchasing Parts for Iranian Companies
The sole Hong Kong person on the sanction list is 63-year-old man Yung Yiu-wah (also known as Stephen Yung). He is accused of collaborating with a mainland woman, Li Yongxin (also known as Emma Lee), to facilitate the procurement and arrange shipments for an Iranian company called Rayan Roshd.HK Firms Repeatedly Accused of Aiding Iran
This is not the first time companies from mainland China or Hong Kong have been sanctioned due to involvement in Iran. Many of the Hong Kong companies that have been named in the past have been accused of having ties to the mainland. This year alone, many Hong Kong companies have been sanctioned.In June, the United States announced sanctions against more than ten individuals and companies from Iran, China, and Hong Kong for secretly helping Iran develop ballistic missiles. Among those involved is a shell company, “Hong Kong Ke.Do International Trade Co. Ltd.,” whose director Qin Xutong, a Chinese national, is also a shareholder of another sanctioned company, “Qingdao ZhongRongTong Trading Development Co. Ltd.”
Chinese Parts Found in Iranian Drone Shot Down Over Ukrainian Airspace
In a notable incident, Ukrainian troops shot down an Iranian drone flying over Ukraine earlier this spring. During inspection, Western researchers found a voltage converter manufactured in China in mid-January.Such discovery suggests that Iran is capable of quickly producing drones with the help of Chinese components and exporting them to Russia.
The Wall Street Journal reported in February that trade data suggested that drones exported by China were still providing effective support to the Russian army in the Ukrainian invasion, including DJI drones. The U.S. Department of Defense is concerned that these drones not only can help the Russian military on the battlefield but also allow the CCP to collect key battlefield intelligence, which may strengthen Beijing’s combat readiness.
Chinese, HK Companies, and Individuals Accused of Supporting Iran’s Military
Throughout the year, the U.S. Treasury Department has been imposing sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong companies and individuals involved in Iran’s drone and military aircraft development.Earlier in March, five companies based in China, and one Chinese mainlander were named as part of a network that provides parts to the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, which engages in manufacturing drones and which Iran is accused of using. These drones have attacked oil tankers as well as providing lethal attacking options to Russia for use in Ukraine.
Mainland Woman Accused of Selling Servo Motors to Iran, Yemen via HK Firm
Earlier in September, the United States sanctioned two people and five entities from Iran, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. They were accused of procuring sensitive parts for Iran in the latter’s development of “kamikaze” attacking drones.Among them, Hongkong Himark Electron Model Limited, a company located in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, was alleged to have completed orders worth over US$1 million for servomotors. A Himark representative from Zhuhai, Fan Yang, (also known as Cathy), participated in the above transactions. Himark and Fan Yang were also accused of providing servo motors worth more than US$100,000 to the Houthi armed forces in Yemen.
