Chapter 1: chinese manufacture of EQUIPMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT China’s growing production of law enforcement equipment The demand for law enforcement equipment is global, with agencies around the world using a range of increasingly sophisticated and sometimes inappropriate weapons and other equipment to carry out their duties. China’s manufacturing of such equipment is dominated by large state-owned companies (see box below), with multiple subsidiaries and affiliates. Over recent years this sector has greatly expanded the range of equipment produced. At the same time there has been an expansion of smaller companies, either privately owned or linked to provincial Public Security Bureaus,5 developing, manufacturing and trading in equipment such as electric shock stun batons and shields, spiked batons, chemical irritant (pepper) sprayers and mechanical restraint devices. A 2003 global survey of manufacturers and traders of law enforcement equipment undertaken in preparation for the Amnesty International report Pain Merchants found 28 Chinese companies in this sector;6 in early 2014 this had risen to over 130.7 Police and security exhibitions are held in China every year,8 giving Chinese and foreign companies the opportunity to display and promote their products, mainly to potential Chinese buyers. The size of these trade exhibitions has expanded over the past decade. The venue for the first China Police exhibition in 2002 was 10,000m2 in size;9 by 2012 the exhibition had grown to 37,000m2 and attracted more than 30,000 visitors.10 main CHINESE STATE-OWNED SUPPLIERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT equipment China Jing’an Equipment Import / Export Corporation began as a trading arm of the People’s Armed Police and now describes itself as a state-owned enterprise.11 It has advertised crowd control launchers (38mm),12 electric shock stun guns, electric shock stun batons and an electric shock stun shield.13 China South Industries Group (CSG) is under the remit of the State Council – China’s highest administrative and executive state organ. CSG is heavily involved in the civilian market, but has also researched, developed and manufactured some military and policing equipment including small arms and ammunition.14 One of its research institutes, the China Ordnance Equipment Academy (also known as the 208 Research Institute), has developed and manufactured equipment for law enforcement including crowd control grenade launchers and projectile electric shock stun guns.15 China Xinxing Corporation Group (CXXC), was originally owned by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) but was incorporated into China General Technology Group Holdings Co. Ltd. (Genertec) in October 2009.16 China Xinxing Import / Export Corporation, a subsidiary of CXXC, trades military and logistics equipment. It has 54 factories which manufacture a range of law enforcement equipment.17 Its marketing literature advertises a range of equipment including handcuffs, thumb cuffs, transport cuffs, restraint chairs and electric shock stun guns and batons.18 In 2012 China Xinxing Import / Export Corporation stated that it has links with more than 40 African countries and its trade with Africa was worth US$100 million.19 The Norinco Group (Norinco), also known as China North Industries Group Corporation (CNGC), operates under the remit of the State Council. Norinco has researched, developed and manufactured a range of law enforcement equipment including armoured vehicles, crowd control grenade launchers, tear gas and ‘less lethal’ projectiles.20 It is also a major manufacturer of military equipment. It has approximately 100 subsidiary companies and 35 research institutions.21 Norinco is also the name of an import / export organization that is 50% owned by the Norinco Group and China’s Trade in Tools of Torture and Repression Amnesty International – Index: ASA 17/042/2014 5