FATF watch list: China opposes use of finance as political tool to put pressure on Pakistan

BEIJING - China has said it opposes the use of finance as a political measure to put pressure on Pakistan, asking the international community to objectively and justly treat the Pakistani anti-terrorist efforts instead of simply blaming it.

Beijing once again came out in support of Pakistan on Tuesday, after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided to place the South Asian country on “grey list” from June of this year.

“We also oppose the use of finance as a political measure to put pressure on Pakistan” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing.

Responding to a question that some countries accused Pakistan of flaws in fighting terrorism financing in recent past, the spokesperson said: “The Pakistani government and people have made tremendous efforts and made great sacrifices for the international anti-terrorism cause.”

“In recent years, in particular, Pakistan has actively taken a series of measures to strengthen financial supervision and crackdown on terrorist financing and made important progress.

“All parties should objectively and justly treat the Pakistani anti-terrorist efforts, instead of simply blaming them. We also oppose the use of finance as a political measure to put pressure on the Pakistani side,” he added.

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The spokesperson said that as an all-weather strategic partner, China and Pakistan would continue to step up coordination and cooperation on the anti-terrorism issue.

“Their political mutual trust will be unbreakable and neither will any attempt to leave the Sino-Pakistani relations.”

Pakistan was first put on the FATF's grey list in 2012 but was removed in 2015.