EU 'could end China arms embargo' Options

[Mid-Night_Sun]

EU 'could end China arms embargo'
AFP
AFP - Friday, December 31

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BRUSSELS (AFP) - – A European Union arms embargo clamped on China in 1989 following the Tiananmen crackdown could be lifted in early 2011, Brussels sources told Thursday's edition of France's Le Figaro daily.

The lifting of the embargo on all lethal weapons "could happen very quickly," a source close to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told the paper.

An EU diplomat in Brussels refused to confirm the claim, but acknowledged that Ashton recommended as much in a report presented at a December 16-17 summit to the bloc's 27 national leaders.

Ashton's report described the embargo as "a major impediment" to Europe-China security and foreign policy cooperation.

"The EU should assess its practical implication and design a way forward," it concluded.

Lifting the embargo would nevertheless require unanimity across EU member states.

Spain recently tried to persuade opponents to lift the embargo, and the issue can be expected to come up again in mid-January when EU foreign ministers' hold informal talks in Hungary.

"We will look into this," said the diplomat.

The issue has re-emerged following talks between China and the EU in Beijing focused on economic and trade cooperation, at which China indicated it would support heavily indebted eurozone economies struggling to raise finance on open markets at affordable interest rates.

An EU official insisted there was "nothing of an exchange or negotiation whatsoever" involving the arms embargo, stressing that there "nothing given in exchange for that support."

Chinese ambassador Song Zhe recently said "it doesn't make any sense to maintain the embargo," arguing that "we will develop our own arms even faster" and claiming that arms companies in Europe "are losing out."

Europe was divided on the issue when it was discussed at a meeting of foreign ministers in September, with some mooting the idea of a conditional lifting of the embargo.

Conditions included improved ties with Taiwan, an amnesty for arrests linked to the Tiananmen crackdown, and a calendar for the ratification of the convention on civil and political rights.

The Figaro said that the Netherlands, Britain and, to a lesser extent, Germany, had each lowered their opposition to lifting the embargo.

But another diplomatic source said Britain in particular remained set against alongside the US and Japan.

Chinese troops and tanks ended weeks of pro-democracy protests in Beijing central Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, killing hundreds if not thousands of demonstrators.



http://asia.news.yahoo.com/afp/20101230/ta...ts-8d4ea94.html

This post has been edited by Mid-Night_Sun: Dec 30 2010, 03:30 PM

[orange peel]

It makes sense as EU is basically under close to zero amount threat (no territorial dispute, no overlap in sphere of influence, big distance and very robust trade relationship) from a very natural catch-up of Chinese military capabilities. There is also a huge amount of cash to be earned.

This has always been about the American veto.

[ConjugateManifol...]

It makes sense as EU is basically under close to zero amount threat (no territorial dispute, no overlap in sphere of influence, big distance and very robust trade relationship) from a very natural catch-up of Chinese military capabilities. There is also a huge amount of cash to be earned.

This has always been about the American veto.

I dont really believe there are huge-cash to make in China, since Europe dont really has much military tech/know-how that China is really want to buy, at the moment the only things that European could offer that I can think of is helocopter and helicopter engines (forget jet engines, what China need now is high-power jet engines, where european has none, they only has their overpriced under-powered middle-power jet engines like M88 where China has no interests to buy nor has any aircraft to install on).

Judging by the rate of advancment of China industry/R&D, I wouldnt be surprised by the time they finally lift the embargo, they cannot sell a damn thing.

This post has been edited by ConjugateManifold: Dec 30 2010, 07:06 PM

[foi2]

The Europeans better make their move quick. The way things are going, they won't have anyone to sell to within 15 years. Look at the J20. China is already proven as capable, if not more so than countries such as Germany and UK in airframe design (perhaps not as advanced as the French yet though).

It's the same reason why the Russians are suddenly willing to sell the SU-35 as well as their newest engines to China now. They know that if they don't sell the tech to China, the Chinese are perfectly capable to developing the tech themselves anyway, so the Russians opted for a contract (albeit a delayed one with delivery dates 7 years in the future to keep tech leaks from happening as long as possible).

It's not a matter of if the Chinese are gonna catch up. It's a matter of when.

[orange peel]

I dont really believe there are huge-cash to make in China, since Europe dont really has much military tech/know-how that China is really want to buy, at the moment the only things that European could offer that I can think of is helocopter and helicopter engines (forget jet engines, what China need now is high-power jet engines, where european has none, they only has their overpriced under-powered middle-power jet engines like M88 where China has no interests to buy nor has any aircraft to install on).

Judging by the rate of advancment of China industry/R&D, I wouldnt be surprised by the time they finally lift the embargo, they cannot sell a damn thing.

helicopters are very important, materials engineering, precision machinery, war ship power plants, precision rifles, large aircrafts are just some things coming from the top of my head, I think that Chinese R&D is fully capable of making advances on its own in these areas but if you can quickly catch up and "stand on other people's shoulders" then why not, having another option is always better.

This post has been edited by orange peel: Dec 30 2010, 07:32 PM

[ClassicalMusic]

They might just be bluffing.

[Shenzhou]

China should produce arms by herself.

Look at India!!!!

All her weaponry is foreign purchased. China is good because she is forced to invest in indigenous industry :-)

[AsianGames]

China should produce arms by herself.

Look at India!!!!

All her weaponry is foreign purchased. China is good because she is forced to invest in indigenous industry :-)

Chinese military industrial complex always follows the "walking with two legs" doctrine, which place equal importance on key imports and domestic developments)
So don't worry about over relying on foreign military imports

This post has been edited by AsianGames: Dec 30 2010, 09:41 PM