China’s State Council and Central Military Committee approved the founding of China Poly Group Corporation (Poly Group) in February 1992 as a successor to Poly Technologies, Incorporated.[2]  While Poly Technologies, Inc. has overseen and facilitated missile exports in the past, Poly Group appears to be more involved in conventional arms exports, and civilian infrastructure development. It is unclear to what extent Poly Group’s exports still include delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The Chinese military established Poly Group’s successor, Poly Technologies, Incorp., in 1984 to compete with China North Industry Corporation (NORINCO).[3] Poly Technologies was initially under the Equipment Department of the General Staff Department of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and operated out of China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC).[4] Poly Technologies coordinated the sales of the Dong Fang-3 (DF-3) intermediate-range ballistic missiles to Saudi Arabia in 1985-1988.[5]

Today, Poly Group is one of China’s primary exporters of conventional arms. In 2010, the China New Era Group Corporation’s (Xinshidai’s) military-related business merged with Poly Group.[6] Poly Group’s conventional exports include rifles, rocket systems, naval vessels, grenade launchers, and anti-aircraft missile systems.[7]

Sources:
[1] “集团简介 [Introduction to the Group],” China Poly Group Corporation, www.poly.com.cn.
[2] “集团简介 [Introduction to the Group],” China Poly Group Corporation, www.poly.com.cn.
[3] Yan Kong, "China's Arms Trade Bureaucracy," Jane's Intelligence Review, February 1994, p. 82; 1984 date from “集团简介[Introduction to the Group],” China Poly Group Corporation, www.poly.com.cn.
[4] Yan Kong, "China's Arms Trade Bureaucracy," Jane's Intelligence Review, February 1994, p. 82.
[5] Hua Di, “China’s Case: Ballistic Missile Proliferation,” in Potter and Jencks eds., The International Missile Bazaar: The New Suppliers’ Network (Westview Pr, 1993) p. 170.
[6] “集团简介 [Introduction to the Group],” China Poly Group Corporation, www.poly.com.cn.
[7] Celia W. Dugger, “Zimbabwe Arms Shipped by China Spark an Uproar,” New York Times, 19 April 2008, www.nytimes.com; Mrityunjoy Mazumdar, “Ghana to Re-capitalize Navy in Two Years,” Jane’s Defense Security Report, 22 July 2010, www.janes.com; Gunter Endres, “China Takes Center Stage,” Jane’s Exhibition News (IHS Global Limited), 20 September 2010, home.janes.com.