US rebuffs Chirac's call to end China arms embargo

EU Business ^

[maui_hawaii]

The United States on Wednesday took a dim view of French President Jacques Chirac's pledge to China to work towards the lifting of a European Union embargo on arms sales to Beijing.

Chirac gave the undertaking during talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Paris, saying the embargo, slapped on China after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre "makes no more sense today."

The State Department said it viewed bans on arms sales to China by the United States and EU as complimentary, and did not agree they should be lifted.

"For the United States, our statutes and regulations prohibit sales of defense items to China," said spokesman Richard Boucher.

"We believe that others should maintain their current arms embargoes as well."

"We believe that the US and European prohibitions on arms sales are complementary, were imposed for the same reason, specifically serious human rights abuses, and that those reasons remain valid today."

Chirac said Tuesday that French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin urged his EU counterparts in Brussels to lift the embargo, "which dates back more than 15 years and which no longer corresponds with the political reality of the contemporary world."

That meeting referred the issue to technical-level officials for review.

Chirac added that he hoped the restriction would be scrapped "in the coming months".

The embargo was imposed after June 1989, when China sent tanks to crush weeks-long pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, killing hundreds.

Several EU countries, including the Netherlands and Sweden, remain reluctant to lift the ban, citing notably China's controversial human rights record, according to diplomats.

[Viking2002]

I hope the French have enough sense to get rid of that corrupt pig Chirac, and put him in a jail cell where he belongs.

I know, folks, I'm asking a lot.

[RiflemanSharpe]

On thing about the French, it is nice to see that the spirit of Vichy is a live and well. The French for the better part of 100 years have lapped the hand like a loyal mutt of a more powerful nation that they think can help them.

[Pubbie]

Duuuhh!

The US doesn't want a New Arms Race in East Asia with Russia, Japan, South Korea, and India building up for WWIII against China.

[NonValueAdded]

Aw, be nice to Kerry's countryman. After all, Jacques just lost his biggest customer down a spider hole.

[XHogPilot]

Chirac's buddies identified among 270 Iraq oil bribe names:

Crosslink to list of all 270 bribe takers, by name, country, and organization

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1067157/posts?page=1

[Darlin']

I used to think Chirac was driven by his deep resentment of the U.S., by greed and his desire for power but I'm begining to think he is crazy, too.

[skinkinthegrass]

I used to think Chirac...think he is crazy, too.

But, The Bribes do help though...$$$ for "the Ladies of the night".

[Mike Darancette]

The French are casting about for a new country to surrender to.

[Salman]

I view of the recent Iraqi revelations about Chirac, my only reaction is "How much are the Chinese paying him?"

[risk]

Gee and I wonder why. Related article: http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040128-041047-9293r.htm