Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said South Africa might buy weapons from the People’s Republic of China. Speaking during his visit to China, Lekota said South Africa wanted to strengthen military ties with China. Lekota also said South Africa would sell weapons to China after the country had shown an interest in South African manufactured arms. He did not say when and for what purpose China needed the weapons, except to emphasise that China’s human rights record would not harm the deal. Lekota also visited China’s leading arms manufactures in Beijing.