Stop seeing China through 'colored glasses'

BEIJING - The Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday urges "some people" to stop looking at China's arms sales through "colored glasses."

Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun made the remarks at a monthly news briefing in response to a report issued by Sweden's Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. According to the report, China has overtaken Britain as the world's fifth-largest arms exporter over the five-year period from 2008 to 2012.

"China exports only a very limited amount of weapons," said the spokesman, adding that even the data in the report itself showed that China's arms sales only amounted to five percent of the global total in the five years.

"And this figure is only one-sixth of that of the largest arms exporter in the world," he added.

Yang said it is unreasonable for some Western media to say China's arms exports cause problems for regional security.

The Chinese government always holds a prudent and responsible attitude toward trade on military items to other countries, Yang said.  

China holds to the principle that arms exports should not impair peace, security and stability of regions or the world at large, and China does not interfere in other countries' internal affairs, said the spokesman.

"Some people should not wear colored glasses (on this matter), and not always glue their eyes to China," Yang said.