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Norinco is also known outside of [[China]] for its high-tech defense products, some of which are adaptations of [[Soviet]] equipment. Norinco produces precision strike systems, amphibious assault weapons and equipment, long-range suppression weapon systems, anti-aircraft & anti-missile systems, information & night vision products, high-effect destruction systems,<ref>"[http://www.norinco.com/c1024/english/productsandservices/index.html# Norinco Defense]." ''Norinco.com''</ref> fuel air bombs, anti-terrorism & anti-riot equipment and [[small arms]]. | Norinco is also known outside of [[China]] for its high-tech defense products, some of which are adaptations of [[Soviet]] equipment. Norinco produces precision strike systems, amphibious assault weapons and equipment, long-range suppression weapon systems, anti-aircraft & anti-missile systems, information & night vision products, high-effect destruction systems,<ref>"[http://www.norinco.com/c1024/english/productsandservices/index.html# Norinco Defense]." ''Norinco.com''</ref> fuel air bombs, anti-terrorism & anti-riot equipment and [[small arms]]. | ||
| − | + | ==History== | |
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| + | Norinco was established in 1980 with the approval of the State Council of China, and is overseen by the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND). According to the congressional testimony of Gary Milhollin of the ''Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control'' in 1997, Norinco subsidiaries in the U.S. include: Beta Chemical, Beta First, Beta Lighting, Beta Unitex, China Sports (California), Forte Lighting, Larin, NIC International (New Jersey).<ref>[http://www.iranwatch.org/Gary/sfrc-milhollintestimony-050697.htm][http://www.iranwatch.org/government/US/Congress/Hearings/sfrc-050697/us-congress-sfrc-transcript-050697.htm#Milhollin]</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Controversies in the United States== | ||
| + | Importations of most Norinco firearms and ammunition into the United States were blocked during the Clinton Administration in 1993 under new trade rules when China's "Most Favored Nation" status was renewed. Concerns about their use by criminals in inner cities was the reason put forward as the pretense for the prohibition. The prohibition did not apply to sporting [[shotguns]] or shotgun [[ammunition]] however. | ||
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| + | In 1994, some employees of Norinco came under federal investigation from both the FBI as well as the [[BATF]] after a successful sting dubbed “Operation Dragon Fire.” In May 1996, in what was called "the largest seizure of fully operational automatic weapons in U.S. history,"<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,135999,00.html Anatomy Of A Sting - Time]</ref> 14 individuals and an Atlanta, Georgia company were indicted for the unlicensed importation and sale of 2,000 [[Type 56]]'s into the United States. U.S. Customs agents posing as arms traffickers convinced a group of Chinese arms dealers, including three Norinco representatives, that they were in the market to buy guns for drug rings and street gangs.<ref>[http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/misc/smuggle.html Court TV Library]</ref> According to Wayne Yamashita, of the U.S. Customs Service: "The defendants offered the government undercover agents more sophisticated weapons, including hand-held [[rocket launcher]]s, [[mortar]]s, anti-aircraft missiles, silenced [[machine guns]] and even tanks."<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/US/9605/23/china.arms/ CNN - Feds seize 'incredible arsenal' - May 23, 1996]</ref> The Customs Service discovered during the investigation that these weapons were bound for Oakland, California street gangs.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030523-123039-1385r.htm Washington Times - Chinese firm hit with U.S. sanctions]</ref> According to an affidavit signed by two of the undercover agents involved in the investigation, representatives from Norinco offered to sell urban gangs shoulder-held missile launchers capable of downing a large commercial airliner. | ||
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| + | In August 2003, the Bush administration imposed sanctions on Norinco for allegedly selling missile-related goods to Iran.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> While not formally joining the multinational effort to restrict the proliferation of missiles, China did commit in 2000, not to assist in any way the development by other countries of MTCR-class missile technology. Neither the Chinese government nor Norinco has denied doing business with Iranian companies, although they did deny that it was for missile related purposes at the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, Iran’s key manufacturer of ballistic and non ballistic missiles.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2931154.stm ][http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/tehran-hemat.htm] [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/18902.htm] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2931154.stm ]</ref> Norinco has called the sanctions "groundless and unjustified" and "entirely unreasonable."<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/200306/06/eng20030606_117779.shtml][http://www.norinco.com/c1024/english/newscenter/press_03.html]</ref> | ||
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| + | 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. | ||
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==Some weapons manufactured by Norinco== | ==Some weapons manufactured by Norinco== | ||
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* 1911A1 mil-spec clone of the [[Colt M1911A1]] | * 1911A1 mil-spec clone of the [[Colt M1911A1]] | ||
* [[Type 98 anti-tank rocket]] 120 mm anti-tank rocket system | * [[Type 98 anti-tank rocket]] 120 mm anti-tank rocket system | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
