Islam Times - US sanctions on Russian and Chinese firms a tempest in a teapot

Islam Times - The new American sanctions against two Russian and Chinese tech firms are a tempest in a teapot, American political commentator Dennis Etler says.

Etler, a former professor of Anthropology at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, made the remarks after the United States imposed sanctions on two tech firms, one in Russia and one in China, accusing them of moving illicit funding to North Korea in violation of American sanctions.

The US Treasury Department said in a statement on Thursday that the new sanctions target China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology Co, and a Russian-based subsidiary, Volasys Silver Star, Reuters reported.

The US Treasury statement accused the companies for supporting North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

“The imposition of sanctions by the US on two tech firms, one in Russia and one in China, accusing them of moving illicit funding to North Korea in violation of American sanctions is a tempest in a teapot meant to grab headlines and nothing else,” Etler said.

“The new sanctions target China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology Co, and a Russian-based subsidiary, Volasys Silver Star, Reuters reported. The meager amount of information about this company indicates that it produces computer-game. The charges suggest that it is a front for funneling funds to North Korea,” he added.

“Given the fact that the CEO is said to be North Korean and the implication that it employs workers from North Korea the assumption seems to be that it is a conduit for illegal funds entering North Korea. Whatever the truth behind these allegations may be they certainly do not rise to the level of significance that the headlines indicate,” the analyst said.

“The US Treasury statement accusing the companies of supporting North Korea's nuclear and missile programs is far-fetched and should be taken with a huge grain of salt. As far as the US is concerned any economic relations between North Korea and the rest of the world constitutes support for its nuclear and missile programs,” he stated.

“The reason why accusations of this sort are made is to continue to portray both China and Russia as bad actors who are out to sabotage the sanctions regime against the DPRK. But, the US is not an honest broker. It has no intention of relaxing sanctions against North Korea no matter what the North does to relieve tensions,” he said.

“It hopes to string North Korea along until it makes more and more concessions to meet the insatiable appetite of the US. The US objective is to totally abrogate North Korea’s sovereignty, reducing it to a neutered vassal state. Neither North Korea, Russia nor China will allow that to happen,” the commentator said.

“Eventually they, along with South Korea, will have to break free from the constraints imposed on the peace process on the Korean peninsula. Peace between the North and South, and the denuclearization of the peninsula guaranteed by both Russia and China is the way to go,” he noted.

“The only way forward is for the US to withdraw and let the Korean people and their neighbors establish peace and stability. It is the US that is the roadblock for a peaceful resolution of the Korean crisis,” he concluded.