BEIJING - China has never exported weapons to countries and regions under arms embargo sanctions of the United Nations Security Council, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has always strictly implemented UN Security Council resolutions.

The Chinese government has always taken a prudent and responsible attitude toward arms exports, she said, stressing that China has always managed relevant affairs in strict accordance with its laws, regulations and international obligations.

According to a recent New York Times story, an Iranian dhow seized off the Yemeni coast in January was carrying 10 Chinese heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles labeled "QW-1M" and bore markings suggesting they had been assembled at a factory represented by the China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation.