China slams foreign media over product safety coverage

China's Ministry of Commerce branded foreign journalists "irresponsible people" on Thursday, accusing them of raising fears about Chinese-made goods in the wake of recent product recalls. Responding to questions about recalls by US toymaker Mattel, ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei stressed the majority of Chinese exports were of high quality and the rise in safety problems was the inevitable result of a rise in exports, AFP reported. Wang added that Mattel – which announced its second big recall of Chinese-made toys this week over fears that they may contain lead paint – was also responsible for the problem. "There must be close attention to quality at all levels, not only manufacturers, but also by those who import and sell the toys," he said. Despite the critical remarks about media coverage, Wang promised that China would improve safety measures and come down hard on manufacturers of dangerous goods.