Beijing - China defended its arms export policy on Tuesday, after a reported complaint by British officials that Chinese weapons were found in the hands of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. "China is prudent and responsible in arms exports," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters when asked about the reported British complaint.
"We have strict controls over the ammount of arms exports," Jiang said.
"We ask all the receivers to tell us what the weapons are used for, and China never provides weapons to individuals," she said.
The BBC said on its website that officials had raised with the Chinese foreign ministry Britain's "growing concern about the incidents" in which Chinese weapons were used in Afghanistan.
The broadcaster said it was told that "on several occasions Chinese arms have been recovered after attacks on British and American troops by Afghan insurgents".
It said Afghan officials had "privately confirmed to the BBC that sophisticated Chinese weapons are now in the hands of the Taliban."
The Chinese-made arms included surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, landmines, rocket-propelled grenades and components for roadside bombs, the BBC said.
