A photo taken on November 19, 2019 shows military uniforms on display at the 21th worldwide exhibition of internal State security in Villepinte, in the Paris suburbs. — AFP pic
But contrary to weapons and ammunition on display at other stands, Chinese firms offer non-lethal equipment: helmets, bullet-proof vests and tactical clothing for special forces or riot troops. Jamming equipment. And cameras, lots of cameras. Beijing, after initially denying the camps existed, now describes them as vocational schools aimed at dampening the allure of Islamist extremism and violence through education and job training.
Coupled with images from the network of surveillance cameras, police in command centres have more information upon which to base decisions, especially since “we can integrate facial recognition systems,” he added.The company already makes 40 per cent of its sales outside of China, owing in part to having acquired firms in Britain, Canada and Spain.
A number of the companies present come from the Shenzhen region near Hong Kong — home to telecommunications equipment maker Huawei. Chinese armaments firm Norinco is also present at Milipol, but with facial recognition technology rather than assault rifles or battle tanks.