Located in Beijing, Poly Technologies Corporation was established by China's military to compete with China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) in arms sales. Poly Technologies deals with missile and other arms sales, and is one of China's two major arms trading organizations (the other is the New Era (Xinshidai) Corporation).

Poly Technologies, on paper a subsidiary of China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC), is actually a front company for the Chinese military-industrial complex. The firm was founded in June 1984 so the PLA general staff could have its own arms trading company. Poly Technologies reports to the armament department of the PLA General Staff Department (GSD), and is authorized to sell almost all Chinese conventional weapons. Poly sells short and medium-range ballistic missiles. It reportedly conducted the sale of DF-3 (CSS-2) missiles to Saudi Arabia in 1988.

Poly Technologies is also closely tied to various members of Chinese government. These ties to the government and military make companies such as Poly Technologies difficult for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to control. This power has contributed to China's reluctance to join in restricting arms sales.

Poly Technologies oversees the trading branches of the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and Navy (PLAN), the Poly Aviation Technology Branch and Poly Navy Equipment Branch.

Subsidiaries of Poly Technologies include:

• Continental Mariner
• Lolliman, LTD.
• Ringo Trading Company

Recent Developments

China's Poly Technologies Corporation has entered into a partnership with Nigerian Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

Poly Technologies Corporation developed a mobile air defense system called the FB-6A Missile Launching Vehicle. The vehicle is similar to the American Boeing Avenger air defense system.

Sri Lanka has signed a USD 37.6 million arms sales agreement with Poly Technologies Corporation. The agreement supplies the Sri Lankan Army and Navy with conventional arms.

Sources:
[1] Risk Report, May 1995, p. 7.
[2] Bates Gill, "Determinants and Directions for Chinese Weapons Imports," Pacific Review, Vol. 8, No. 2 1995, pp. 369-370.
[3] Hua Di, in Potter and Jencks, p. 170;
[4] John W. Lewis, Hua Di, and Xue Litai, "Beijing's Defense Establishment: Solving The Arms-Export Enigma," International Security, Spring 1991, p. 89.
[5] Yan Kong, "China's Arms Trade Bureaucracy," Jane's Intelligence Review, February 1994, p. 81.
[6] "Patent Office Weaves Web In China Arms," New York Times, 22 August 1991, p. A19.
[7] Seygun Adeyemi, "Chinese Set to Run Nigerian Defense Group," Janes Defense Weekly, 24 September 2009, www.janes.com.
[8] Christopher F Foss, "China develops FB-6A air Defence system," Janes Defense Weekly, 11 May 2005, www.janes.com.
[9] Robert Karniol, "Sri Lanka chooses new company to supply ammunition," Janes Defense Weekly, 24 May 2007, www.janes.com.