China toughens guns, explosives control ahead of festival

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) began Monday a nationwide campaign to "eliminate public security risks linked to guns and explosives" weeks before lunar new year and China's parliamentary session in March.

The campaign, which will run till the end of March, will see public security forces focused on the illegal manufacture, sales and smuggling of guns and explosives, and inspect work safety in national defense departments whose work involve guns and explosives.

Possession of guns by private individuals is illegal in China. The country has long maintained high pressure on gun-related crime and has mobilized the public to turn in illegal guns and explosives and report suspicions to the police.

According to the MPS, crimes related to guns and explosives fell by 3.6 percent and 15 percent respectively in 2014.

Deputy public security minister Huang Ming noted that there are still issues, noting that online purchases of guns and explosives and their delivery by courier services have become a prominent issue.