China toughens controls on illegal guns and explosives: Xinhua
[SHANGHAI] China's police are cracking down on illegal guns and explosives ahead of the Lunar New Year festival and the annual session of parliament, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.
The campaign was launched on Monday to "eliminate public security risks linked to guns and explosives" and will run through March, it reported.
The possession of guns by private individuals is illegal in China. According to the Ministry of Public Security, gun- and explosive-related crime fell by 3.6 per cent and 15 per cent respectively in 2014.
However, online purchases of guns and explosives and their delivery by courier services have become a "prominent issue", Xinhua quoted deputy minister of public security Huang Ming as saying.
In addition to focusing on smuggling and the illegal manufacture and sale of guns and explosives, police will inspect safety practices in national defence departments where work involves their use.
Lunar New Year is on Feb. 19 this year. China's parliament, the National People's Congress, meets each year in early March.
REUTERS
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
Colombian fund managers eye US$750 million fee bonanza after senators tweak pension bill
Fed survey cites inflation, US election as key financial stability risks
Oil prices steady after Iran plays down reported Israeli attack
G7 pledges swift aid for Ukraine, seeks to calm Middle East
H5N1 strain of bird flu found in milk: WHO
China moves to boost foreign investment in domestic tech companies