The Chinese regime’s anti-corruption watchdog announced on April 4 that Norinco’s former chairman was placed under investigation over corruption charges.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection issued a notice, stating that Yin Jiaxu, the former party chief and chairman of China North Industries Group Corporation (officially abbreviated as Norinco), was placed under disciplinary review and investigation for alleged corruption.
According to public information, 65-year-old Yin Jiaxu is from Chongqing. In 2010, he was appointed as party secretary and deputy general manager of Norinco. He was promoted to chairman in 2013. He retired in 2016.
Norinco is one of the largest state-owned weapons manufacturers, with more than 20 overseas offices and 60 branches. According to its website, Norinco is currently the only enterprise among China’s major military industry groups that provides weaponry and technical support services to the regime’s army, navy, air force, public security, and space industry. Its business covers the production of military vehicles and missile defense systems.
In 2020, the Pentagon listed Norinco as one of the 20 Chinese companies that are owned or controlled by China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army.
Yin is not the only executive of a major weapons manufacturing firm to be taken down by authorities for corruption.
Hu Wenming, the chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation Ltd., was arrested for corruption in January, Hong Kong Media reported. Hu was also in charge of China’s aircraft carrier development.
China Shipbuilding Industry is the largest shipbuilder in the world. In 2020, the company and its subsidiaries were blacklisted by the U.S. government in 2020 for developing infrastructures for the regime in disputed areas in the South China Sea.
