The Council on Ethics’ recommendation, 19 April 2023
AviChina has on several occasions been linked to the export of military equipment to countries under international arms embargoes. The company also lacks transparency around relevant policies regarding arms exports to countries under international arms embargoes.
In December 2021, it was reported that AviChina had sold military equipment to the Myanmar Air Force. In doing so, the company could contribute to serious human rights violations and the undermining of democracy and the principles of the rule of law. These exports are also a clear indication that AviChina has neither changed its attitude nor its practice regarding arms trade with countries under international arms embargoes. According to previous reports, the company also sold military equipment to Sudan and Zimbabwe between 2013 and 2015 while the countries were under international arms embargoes.
Despite the Council on Ethics’ repeated contact attempts, AviChina has not responded, and it has thus not been possible to engage with the company. The Council on Ethics concludes that AviChina neither appears to follow international arms embargoes nor provides information about its related policies and practices.
Accordingly, the Council of Ethics recommends the exclusion of AviChina due to the company’s association with breaching international arms embargoes, which could contribute to human rights violations according to principle 2 of the UN Global Compact and chapter IV of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.