Hikvision and China's Military

Hikvision has partnered with the PRC's military, earning top PLA supplier status, collaborating on PLA research, and more, an IPVM investigation reveals.

This contradicts Hikvision's "strong protest" that the US Defense Department putting Hikvision on a list of Chinese Military Companies was "groundless."

Watch this 1-minute, 45-second video for an overview:

The Wall Street Journal has published its own investigation based on IPVM's report.

Hikvision declined to comment to IPVM, initially deleting but then restoring evidence of its PLA ties.

Hikvision Parent Says Hikvision Supplies Military

Hikvision's parent company is CETC, a state-owned firm that holds a controlling ~41% Hikvision stake. The CETC describes itself as "the most powerful national central corporation" in China's "defense electronics" field. In a 2019 prospectus listing all of its subsidiaries, the CETC stated directly that Hikvision supplies the military :

Hikvision provides suitable segmented products for many industries such as finance, public security, telecommunications, transportation, justice, education, electricity, water conservancy, and the military

海康威视针对金融、公安、电信、交通、司法、教育、 电力、水利、军队等众多行业提供合适的细分产品

PLA Shows Off Hikvision Anti-Drone Gun

A Hikvision anti-drone gun can be seen deployed by People's Liberation Army Rocket Forces in a March 2021 TV segment by CCTV 7, a state-owned news channel dedicated to covering the PLA:

The segment explained that this was a missile launch drill in "high altitude, high cold" weather conditions. The segment did not give further details on the clearly-labeled Hikvision anti-drone gun which visually matches Hikvision's Falcon Series UAV jammer.

PLA Declared Hikvision "Tier 1" Supplier, Certifies Hikvision Products

The PLA's procurement department declared Hikvision a "Tier 1 supplier" in 2014, the highest possible level (Tier 4 is the lowest). In response, Hikvision told the Wall Street Journal it is "not currently a designated supplier", having stopped "submitting the requested materials" since 2015:

Hikvision was qualified and approved to get into the supplier list in that year. Hikvision is not currently a designated supplier. Since 2015, the company stopped submitting the requested materials, like its financial report, yearly as required by the PLA acquisition office. All eligible companies are disclosed on the Department’s official website and the relevant information is accessible to the public.

Hikvision is not currently listed as a supplier on the PLA procurement website (plap.cn), however, Hikvision's sister company Hiklife, also a CETHIK subsidiary, is:

Separately, the PLA certified 9 Hikvision products in 2012 including 3 "smart dome cameras", a DVR, and a server (as first noted by analyst Elsa Kania in a 2017 paper)

Several products on Hikvision's China website tout use cases for "military", "armed police," and "border troops":

• Fixed Vehicle Bottom Detection System, Mobile Vehicle Bottom Detection System both include "application scenarios: Key anti-terrorism venues such as government, military, airport and consulate"
• Thermal imaging network tube camera includes "application scenarios: [...] areas such as airports, ports, railways, scenic spots, high-end real estate, large-scale enterprises, factories, petroleum and petrochemicals, prisons, border troops"
• DSJ-HK02 body cam along with DS-HIKN1A1 are described as being "designed for public security, armed police, city management [...] and other law enforcement departments"
• G3M0617B thermal camera is for "public security, armed police, border control and other industries"

"No R&D Work" But Publishes Study With PLA, Then Deletes

While Hikvision claims that "Hikvision has never participated in any R&D work for military applications", Hikvision published a study on its own China website done in conjunction with the PLA, including a Hikvision computer scientist making field visits to the PLA:

The study compares the PLA to the U.S. Military, stating Chinese soldiers will "need to accumulate experience in daily training" in response to US military innovation:

Compared with the U.S. military, whenever there is a war, the U.S. military will transport its newly developed weapons and equipment to the front line to test the "run-in degree" of soldiers and weapons in actual combat, thereby improving the overall combat level of the military, and as a Chinese soldier in peacetime, you need to accumulate experience in daily training. [emphasis added]

The study examined how Hikvision "video surveillance technology" could improve the performance and "lethality" of PLA surface-to-air missiles/RPGs, artillery, and tanks:

The study's author wrote that he "represented Hikvision" on "field visits" to PLA combat drills, speaking directly with PLA "weapons experts" and "combat unit commanders":

The following are three actual combat training monitoring methods summarized by the author through field visits [...] The author represented Hikvision to communicate with weapons experts of the PLA General Armament Department and commanders of multiple combat units [emphasis added]

The study says Hikvision "boldly proposed" using high-speed Hikvision cameras with "good shock resistance" to record drills and hone accuracy, touting Hikvision's "solid technical support for our army's actual combat training" and commitment to the "military" while noting "it is believed that a batch of such products will be produced in the near future":

In the process of mutual learning, we [Hikvision] boldly proposed the use of video surveillance technology combined with a variety of environmental monitoring. The method collects various parameters in the actual combat training process of officers and soldiers, and then conducts scientific and effective analysis and evaluation of the training process, forming a set of scientifically evidenced battlefield evaluation reports, and provides a reference for the daily training of officers and soldiers

As the world's leading provider of video products and content services, Hikvision has been committed to the development of public security, finance, transportation, justice, building, military and other industries. It is believed that a batch of such products will be produced in the near future. Provide solid technical support for our army's actual combat training. [emphasis added]

Shortly after Hikvision was contacted for comment it deleted the study off its website. However, a few days later, the study was restored and is available as of May 24. Hikvision declined to comment on why it deleted, then restored the study.

Hikvision Alleges "Personal Capacity" Study

While Hikvision declined to comment to IPVM, Hikvision told the Wall Street Journal that it has "never conducted" military R&D and that any such instances were done in a 'personal capacity':

Not now, and not ever, has Hikvision conducted research and development work for Chinese military applications. Any instances of such by any of our employees were done so in a personal capacity and not at the direction of the company.

However, the study was published on Hikvision's own website while its author directly states he "represented Hikvision" on "field visits" to PLA combat drills.

PLA Air Force "High Tech" Unit Buys Hikvision Drones

The PLAAF's Unit 95861 purchased two Hikvision drones and accessory equipment (a gimbal, laser, searchlight, etc) for ~$175,000, according to a 2019 contract won directly by Hikvision's controlling shareholder:

The tender was won by the CETC's 52nd Research Institute, one of the two CETC entities which control Hikvision and is directed by Hikvision's Chairman Chen Zongnian:

A PLAAF recruitment poster states that Unit 95861 is a "high-tech" unit where "new weapons and equipment are tested and finalized":

a high-tech intensive unit with a team of high-quality scientific and technological talents and good scientific research support conditions, and has played an important role in performing military functions [...] Known as the "condensed version of the Air Force", new weapons and equipment are tested and finalized here, new tactics and training methods are studied and generated here, and the combat effectiveness of the troops is honed and improved here [emphasis added]

The entire contract was worth about $200,000 and also included drones from DJI.

Hikvision Sponsors And Participates In Military Conference

The Chinese Defense Information Equipment & Technology Exhibition (CNTE) is a conference held "under the strong guidance and support of the military" describing itself as "a grand event for industry brands strongly supported by the Chinese military and government departments".

The CNTE is officially sponsored by Hikvision, according to its website:

Hikvision is listed as a participant in at least three CNTEs (November 2020, June 2019, June 2017), e.g.:

五、上届回顾 由中国和平利用军工技术协会、全国工商联科技装备业商会、中国国防科协信息化 专委会主办，北京企发展览服务有限公司独家承办的第八届中国国防信息化装备与技术 展览会于2020年11月2-4日在中国国际展览中心隆重召开。本届展会是中国军队和政府 部门大力支持的行业品牌盛会。 同时会聚了近 500 多家厂商参展，代表了行业中具有领先地位的制造商，如：[...] 海康威视、for the 8th China National Defense Information Technology Equipment And Technology Exhibition was held in China International Exhibition Center on November 2-4, 2020. This exhibition is a grand event for industry brands strongly supported by the Chinese military and government departments. At the same time, more than 500 exhibitors gathered together, representing leading manufacturers in the industry, such as: [...] Hikvision, [emphasis added]

The conference says its purpose is to "promote the integration and development of the military and civilian" sectors.

Hikvision Posts AI Jobs At Military Police Base

As IPVM covered in March 2020, Hikvision posted dozens of machine learning jobs where workers were expected to live and work at a People's Armed Police base in Xinjiang:

The PAP is a military police force under the direct control of the Central Military Commission, as is the PLA. The job postings also explicitly discriminated against Uyghurs, stating only Han ethnicity could apply:

The jobs were posted by Hikvision's Xinjiang Research Institute. At the time, Hikvision told IPVM these jobs were "intended for our Enterprise Business Group to service commercial enterprises and not work on government projects". However, Hikvision did not explain why such non-government projects required living and working at a military base.

Boasts About Annual Military Parade

Hikvision boasted in a PowerPoint about how it was the official video surveillance provider for the 2009 annual National Day military parade in Beijing:

[2009 military parade - high quality security, high reliability, watching over the strength of the nation

National Day is a national celebration and National Day security is the top priority. Many Hikvision products, such as cameras and smart dome cameras, video recorders, become the safe choice for national leaders and the people to ensure their safety due to their high quality and high reliability.]

In 2014, Hikvision touted that it had built a video surveillance monitoring station for the People's Armed Police as they secured the APEC summit in Beijing. And in 2008, Hikvision received a letter of congratulations from the Beijing PAP for helping "provide real-time and effective monitoring of important sensitive posts".

Hikvision Gives PLA General Tour

Hikvision's Chairman and CEO have also been pictured giving a tour to PLA General Tang Tianbiao:

Tianbiao, who is also former deputy director of the PLA's General Political Department, was quoted by Chinese media as saying he hoped Hikvision would "combine video surveillance technology with military applications:

Tang Tianbiao hopes that Hikvision will combine video surveillance technology with military applications, promote military-civilian integration and national defense information construction, and create greater social value

Background: Hikvision Declared Chinese Military Company

Last June, the DoD included Hikvision in a list of Chinese Military Companies, which later resulted in US persons being banned from investing in it:

In response, Hikvision issued a strongly-worded statement saying "the decision to pursue Hikvision is groundless":

The decision to pursue Hikvision is groundless. We strongly protested when Hikvision was included on this list in June because, as we have shown time and again, Hikvision is not a ‘Chinese military company’. Hikvision is independently operated and publicly traded. Hikvision has never participated in any R&D work for military applications. Our business and ownership information has always been publicly available. Hikvision has tried to fully cooperate with the U.S. government and transparently answer policymakers’ questions. We have tried to correct misunderstandings about the company and our business. We will continue to try to do so. Hikvision is the global leader in providing video security solutions. These punitive actions against the company do not make America, or the world, any safer. [emphasis added]

The DoD's list included no details about why it had included Hikvision. However, there is overwhelming, publicly available evidence of Hikvision and China's military.

Hikvision Response

Hikvision declined to comment to IPVM for this article. However, Hikvision provided the Wall Street Journal a statement that it makes "devices and solutions" that "can be considered dual-use goods" while distancing itself from the PLA study it published, saying this was not done "at the direction of the company":

Hikvision, like many global technology companies, manufactures commercial devices and solutions that some can be considered dual-use goods serving general video surveillance purposes. Not now, and not ever, has Hikvision conducted research and development work for Chinese military applications. Any instances of such by any of our employees were done so in a personal capacity and not at the direction of the company.