China destroys more seized ivory amid criticism of its efforts to stamp out elephant tusk trade
More than 600kg of ivory destroyed at ceremony, but critics say most is still sold on the mainland and measures against illegal trade don't go far enough
China destroyed more than 600kg of ivory in front of media and diplomats on Friday as it seeks to shed its image as a global trading hub for illegal elephant tusks.
Engraved tusks and carved ivory chopsticks were fed into a crushing machine which spewed powder and clouds of dust into the air on the outskirts of Beijing.
Surging demand for ivory in Asia is behind the increasing number of African elephants killed, conservationists say, as authorities fail to control international smuggling networks.
Experts believe that most illegal ivory is sold in China, where products made from the material are seen as status symbols, with some estimating the country accounts for as much as 70 per cent of global demand.
Beijing has made efforts to curb the trade, stepping up prosecutions of smugglers and seizures of ivory at border posts, but campaigners say the measures have not gone far enough.
Officials said 660 kg of ivory were crushed on Friday, as the machine gave off a loud crunching noise.
Larger items were sliced up by a circular saw and placed on a conveyor belt leading to the machine.