Latest news with #militaryexports
Al Jazeera
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Chinese man in US pleads guilty to exporting guns, ammo to North Korea
A Chinese man living illegally in the United States has pleaded guilty to exporting guns, ammunition and other military items to North Korea at the direction of Pyongyang, the US Department of Justice has said. Shenghua Wen, of Ontario, California, admitted to one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act – a 1977 law that empowers the president to restrict commerce with countries on national security grounds – and one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government, the Justice Department said on Monday. Wen, 42, shipped at least three containers of guns bound for North Korea in 2023, one of which arrived in Nampo, North Korea, via Hong Kong, according to prosecutors. To facilitate the scheme, Wen bought a firearms business in Houston, Texas, and used false paperwork to conceal the contents of his shipping containers, according to prosecutors. Wen, who was arrested in December, also allegedly bought approximately 60,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition and obtained 'sensitive technology', including a chemical threat identification device, for shipment to North Korea. Wen was allegedly directed to procure the weapons and sensitive goods by North Korean officials he met at the North Korean Embassy in China before entering the US on a student visa in 2012. Wen was allegedly transferred about $2m to carry out the scheme. 'Wen admitted that at all relevant times he knew that it was illegal to ship firearms, ammunition, and sensitive technology to North Korea. He also admitted to never having the required licenses to export ammunition, firearms, and the above-described devices to North Korea,' the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a press release. 'He further admitted to acting at the direction of North Korean government officials and that he had not provided notification to the Attorney General of the United States that he was acting in the United States at the direction and control of North Korea as required by law.' During questioning by the FBI, Wen said he believed the North Korean government wanted the weapons and ammunition to prepare for an attack against South Korea, according to a criminal complaint filed in September. Wen is due to face court for sentencing in August. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and up to 10 years for acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
Bloomberg
28-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Germany Weighs Curbs on Israel Arms Exports on Gaza Concerns
Germany is considering restrictions on military exports to Israel over concerns about civilian suffering in Gaza, a notable shift from one of the country's biggest weapons suppliers. While Germany will continue to support Israel, the extent of its backing will be discussed internally by the government, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday during a visit to Finland. He didn't specify a time frame or what proposals were under consideration, and added that decisions might not be made public.
Bloomberg
27-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Germany Weighs Curbs on Israel Weapons Exports on Gaza Concerns
Germany is considering restrictions on military exports to Israel over concerns about civilian suffering in Gaza, a notable shift from one of the country's biggest weapons suppliers. While Germany will continue to support Israel, the extent of its backing will be discussed internally by the government, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday during a visit to Finland. He didn't specify a time frame or what proposals were under consideration, and added that decisions might not be made public.
Free Malaysia Today
19-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
UK govt defends supplying fighter jet parts to Israel
NGO data showed the UK approved £127.6 million in military equipment to Israel from October to December 2024, surpassing 2020-2023 totals. (EPA Images pic) LONDON : The UK government Thursday defended supplying fighter jet parts to Israel amid the war in Gaza, telling a London court that suspending exports would compromise Britain's security and damage relations with Israel and allies. Rights groups took the government to the High Court this week, accusing it of breaking international law by allowing the export of advanced Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jet components. Supported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and others, the Palestinian rights association Al-Haq is seeking a court order to stop the supply of UK-made parts for the US warplanes, which Israel has used to devastating effect in Gaza and the West Bank. Earlier this week, lawyers for Al-Haq said the government had known there was a 'clear risk' Israel would use the jet parts to commit violations of international law. But government lawyer James Eadie said Thursday the UK's trade department had acted lawfully and that suspending the export licences would have affected a wider international F-35 programme, resulting in 'extremely serious risks to the UK and international security'. He added the court was not placed to rule on the legality of Israel's actions, and that attempting to do so could have a 'potentially deleterious' effect on 'foreign relations with a friendly state, namely Israel'. He also said the government had taken decisions about suspending arms licences with its relationship with Israel in mind, seeking to 'make sure relations continued to be cordial'. In September 2024, the new Labour government announced it was suspending around 30 of 350 export licences following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law. But the partial ban did not cover British-made F-35 parts. The refuelling probe, laser targeting system, tyres and ejector seat are among the components made in Britain, according to Oxfam. Britain's defence secretary has previously said suspending F-35 licences would 'undermine US confidence in the UK and Nato', and would not be possible without 'wide impacts to the whole F-35 programme'. But lawyers for Al-Haq have described the F-35 exemption as a 'loophole' allowing the components to reach Israel through a global pooling system. In a separate statement, UK-based NGO Campaign Against Arms Trade said licensing figures showed the government had made a 'shocking increase in military exports to Israel' in the months after its September 2024 announcement of partial suspensions. It said the figures showed the UK approved £127.6 million (US$170 million) in military equipment to Israel in single-issue licences from October to December 2024, saying this was more than for the period from 2020 to 2023 combined. Most of the licences were for military radars, components and software, as well as targeting equipment, according to the NGO, which was involved in the case against the government. It is not certain when a decision could be made after the four-day hearing, which ends on Friday and marks the latest stage in a long-running legal battle.
