China said Tuesday its weapons exports were handled in a “prudent and responsible” manner, refuting criticism by the rights group Amnesty International that its arms sales are fueling brutal conflicts in certain countries.

“This organization’s accusation is groundless and does not comply with facts,” said Jiang Yu, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, at a regular briefing. “China has a prudent and responsible attitude in military exports.”

Jiang said China followed three principles in its arms trade that its exports should serve to boost the defense capability of the recipient country, should not undermine the stability of the country and the world, and should not interfere in the recipient nation’s internal affairs.

London-based human rights group Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday that China’s sales of military vehicles and weapons to Sudan, Nepal and Myanmar have aggravated conflicts and abetted violence and repressive rule in those countries.

In her response, Jiang did not refer specifically to any of the countries mentioned in the report, but said China’s arms deals complied with international law.

“We have normal cooperation in the field of military exports with the relevant countries, and our cooperation conforms to our international obligations and laws,” Jiang said.

In financial terms, China was the smallest exporter of arms among the world’s powers, Jiang said, citing statistics by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

She said the center’s data showed Beijing’s arms exports in the 2000-2004 period amounted to US$1.46 billion (euro1.16 billion), a fraction of the United States’ US$25.9 billion (euro20.6 billion) total.

But China rarely confirms sales of weapons and military equipment abroad, a secrecy that is compounding U.S. concerns about how it is using its rapidly rising economic and diplomatic power abroad. Senior U.S. government officials have publicly criticized China for a robust military buildup at home and a lack of transparency in its defense policies.