Loading One of the groups in Australia which sprang into action was the Poly Group, a Chinese government-run global conglomerate which started off as a front company for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army but has since moved into businesses including arms dealing and property development The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald have obtained copies of internal company messages that reveal an organised campaign by Poly in Australia to purchase as many surgical masks, goggles and gowns as possible through January and February. One January 25 message from the Poly headquarters in Sydney calls on the “team” to find and purchase masks from their local chemists for urgent dispatch to China. Responses came quickly as staff scoured stores and chemists from Penrith to Parramatta, Wentworthvillle, Mona Vale, Epping, Rhodes, regional Wollongong, and Melbourne. One staff member reported back that masks at the local Hornsby Chemist Warehouse and Priceline outlets were sold out but that they would check other stores. Others were on the hunt at hardware chains such as Bunnings. Another worker messaged from Melbourne that the entire Chemist Warehouse network there had sold out of masks.

Yet another Poly staffer reported seeking assistance from relatives in Japan, while a senior Poly executive in the US messaged that there were lots of masks available there and that 12,000 would cost $US6266. On January 25 the company thanked staff for their efforts, noting Poly was “one powerful team”. Picture from the WeChat account of Poly Australia. On February 7, the day Poly appears to have air-freighted a shipment of medical supplies to China, the World Health Organisation expressed concern about the global shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The previous week the president of the Royal Australian College of GPs, Dr Harry Nespolon, had said doctors were worried about the lack of availability of masks. On Wednesday in a written statement the Poly Global’s Australian operation confirmed it supported the international efforts to contain COVID-19 in China by sending masks and other basic medical materials to China in January and early February.

“These actions were in response to the incredible need at that time and were initially led by our staff with loved ones directly impacted by COVID-19. Our response was driven out of pure compassion for our people who have friends and family in the Wuhan region. Materials were sent to our offices in Wuhan and Guangzhou, as well as to families, friends and colleagues in China." Smoke blankets Sydney on January 24. Credit:Nick Moir The statement acknowledged that Poly’s actions were part of a wider international campaign, saying, “Many international companies undertook such actions.” The company stressed that China was now sending supplies to Australia to help defend against coronavirus. “In these rapidly evolving times this situation is now reversed as Australia is in need. Currently we are now focused on helping employees, their families and the broader community here in Australia.”

Although it cut its ties with the military in 1999, the Poly Group is still one of China’s biggest arms exporters. It now also has interests in construction, real estate, mining, entertainment as well as one of the world’s largest auction houses. According to an article in The New York Times, at the company’s American headquarters “visitors can shop for a painting on the third floor or a missile system on the 27th.” The Poly Group is overseen by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission which monitors China’s biggest state-run companies and the company announced on its official website it had responded to the call for help with medical supplies “in accordance with the decisions made by the Central Committee and the SASAC Party Committee.” A truckload of donated goods heading to Wuhan, from the Poly Group WeChat account. “In this battle, Poly Group will take the responsibility as the central government owned enterprise to devote every effort to help our country win the epidemic prevention and control battle. Poly Group protects the country, benefits the people and overcomes difficulties together with our country!”

Loading A key figure in mobilising the Chinese Australian humanitarian effort was Wuhan-born Simon Zhou, the deputy mayor of Ryde council in Sydney. Mr Zhou was one of a number of prominent Chinese figures on hand to farewell a charter flight filled with medical supplies which left Sydney on 24 February. Also present was Dr Guotao Hu, the CEO of property developer Risland Australia, which had donated 81 tonnes of medical supplies. The Chinese consul-general was also a part of the ceremony, as was Kuang Yuanping, a former member of the Chinese military. Neither is an employee of Poly Group. Mr Zhou downplayed his efforts, telling the Herald and The Age, “I had no involvement in organising this donation or transportation, and I did not know who else would attend this event before arrival, but I appreciate the goodwill from our local community.” Mr Zhou provided a letter he sent to the prime minister on March 16, in which he suggested that all healthcare workers across Australia should be required “to wear masks, goggles and other epidemic prevention equipment”. His letter also demanded an explanation as to “How will the government manage resources such as ICU beds, ventilators and other medical supplies?”

Loading Mr Zhou has links to the ASIO-banned Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo who was at the centre of a NSW ICAC inquiry into allegations that the billionaire property developer dropped off $100,000 in an Aldi shopping bag to the party's NSW headquarters. Mr Huang denies that allegation and it has not been alleged that Mr Zhou was involved. Mr Zhou failed to declare a $4 million financial connection with Mr Huang at a time when the council was deliberating on a planning decision, the Australian Financial Review revealed last year. Mr Zhou did not personally stand to profit from the council decision and absented himself from the vote. Once a prolific fundraiser for and donor to the Labor Party, Mr Zhou was rewarded with a job as the NSW ALP's multicultural officer. He attended a Communist Party training course in China shortly before he won a place on Labor's NSW Senate ticket for the July 2016 federal election. He resigned from the party after revelations that he was a key figure in a gold-trading operation being investigated by the Australian Tax Office. Although one of Mr Zhou's gold trading companies collapsed owing the Australian tax office $2.54 million, Mr Zhou, 36, has amassed an estimated $13 million property portfolio.