Norinco


The China Ordnance Industries Group Corporation Limited, also known as China North Industries Group Corporation Limited, officially abbreviated as Norinco, is a Chinese state-owned defense corporation that manufactures a diverse range of civil and military products. It is also involved in domestic civil construction and military defense projects. Norinco is one of the world's largest defense contractors.

History

Established in 1980 with the approval of the State Council of China, Norinco is an enterprise group engaged in both products and capital operation, integrated with research and development, manufacturing, marketing and services. Norinco mainly deals with defense products, petroleum & mineral resources development, international engineering contracting, optronic products, civilian explosives and chemical products, sporting arms and equipment, vehicles and logistics operation, etc. Norinco has been ranked among the forefront of China's 500 largest state-owned enterprises in terms of total assets and revenue.

International customers

Some of Norinco's international customers include Pakistan, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it negotiated arms-for-minerals deals, as well as Venezuela.

Products

Norinco produces firearms, grenade launchers, light and armored vehicles, tanks, aircraft, UAVs, artillery, fuel air bombs, precision strike systems, missiles, air defence and anti-missile systems, air-launched weapons, amphibious assault weapons and equipment, night vision products, long-range suppression weapon systems, machinery, radars, optoelectronic products, engineering equipment, oil field equipments, chemicals, light industrial products, explosives and blast materials, infantry equipments, high-effect destruction systems, anti-riot equipment, civil and military firearms and ammunition.

Riot control

Weapons

Vehicles

Grenade launchers

Riot-control systems

The New York Times accused Norinco of "turning military vehicles into riot control systems", and that the equipment sold was used to support "oppressive regimes... like Venezuela" and that the design of arms produced by Norinco were "reflective of the hardball tactics that China takes against dissent".
Defense experts have also accused that Norinco's design for anti-riot equipment — firing projectiles, water cannons and tear gas from behind a tall barricade – is dangerous, allowing authorities to haphazardly fire upon demonstrators without clear visibility and blocking the safe exit of those being fired upon. Tear gas cannons are also constructed in layouts intended to fire directly into crowds instead of being delivered in an arched trajectory, turning the canisters into lethal projectiles.

Trade disputes with the United States

In 1993, the import of most Norinco firearms and ammunition into the United States was blocked under new trade rules when China's permanent normal trade relations status was renewed. The prohibition did not apply to sporting shotguns or shotgun ammunition, however. In 1994, U.S. Customs agents conducted a sting operation named Operation Dragon Fire against Atlanta-based importers of Norinco firearms as well as Poly Technologies. Seven officials were arrested after agreeing to smuggle 2,000 fully automatic Chinese-made AK-47s to undercover agents the officials believed may have been connected to the mafia. At least one official, Hammond Ku, attempted to sell Chinese-produced tanks and rocket launchers to the undercover agents.
In August 2003, the Bush Administration imposed sanctions on Norinco for allegedly selling missile-related goods to Iran. These sanctions led to a prohibition on imports into the US of the remaining types of firearms and ammunition not covered by the 1993 ban.