China-Backed Firm Shipped Out Australia’s Medical Supplies in Bulk Amid CCP Virus Outbreak: Report

Workers are seen unloading supplies from a truck wearing protective equipment to be loaded onto the MSC Magnifica berthed at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal in Fremantle, Australia, on March 24, 2020. Paul Kane/Getty Images

A Chinese state-backed property developer in Sydney reportedly stockpiled essential medical supplies from Australia and other countries where the company operates, and shipped them back to China.

The Greenland Group, which manages property developments worldwide with the backing of the Chinese government, hoarded 3 million face masks, hand sanitizer, half a million pairs of gloves, 700,000 hazmat suits, thermometers, and other medical items that have been in short supply in the country, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

A whistleblower from the property giant told the news outlet fellow employees in Australia, Canada, Turkey and elsewhere were told to cease normal work, and instead source essential medical supplies in bulk to be stored at its Sydney headquarters, for shipment to China throughout January and February.

“Basically all employees, the majority of whom are Chinese, were asked to source whatever medical supplies they could,” the Greenland Group insider said. “There were numerous requests from the HR manager and even our direct reporting line [which] prioritized the assisting of the company in gathering these supplies over other work activities.”

The Epoch Times has not been able to independently verify the claims, however the company—which was founded in Shanghai in 1992—told the Herald in a statement it had shipped supplies from Sydney to China.

The property giant said it “felt compelled to assist” in efforts to help battle the outbreak of the CCP virus.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party’s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

“As such, Greenland Group initiated a drive for medical supplies, and provided accommodation services for front-line medical staff in China via the company’s hotel group,” the statement read.

“Greenland Australia supported Greenland Group’s initiative by arranging for medical supplies to be dispatched to China. Again, it should be noted that this proactive response occurred in late January and early February, at a time when the worldwide spread of the virus, and all response efforts, were focused on China.”

The Herald reported that a second Sydney-based Chinese property company, Risland Australia, shipped 80 tons of medical supplies to China in late February. Supplies included 100,000 protective coveralls and 900,000 pairs of medical gloves.

Meanwhile, Australia is struggling with a shortage of medical supplies as COVID-19 cases surged to at least 3,143 on Friday with 13 deaths.

In response to the claims, the Australian Medical Association on Thursday warned that the nation must protect its medical supplies and equipment.

As CCP virus cases continue to rise in the country, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday tightened enforcement on self-isolation for thousands of citizens returning from overseas, saying arrivals in all states and territories would be quarantined in hotels.

The Australian Defence Force would also be deployed to help enforce the self-isolation rules, Morrison said.