Posted on 10/11/2004 6:05:05 AM PDT by Cornpone
During his visit, the head of the State pled for the lifting of the European embargo on the sales of armament in China, affirmed that it "includes/understands perfectly" the sights of the leaders Chinese on the question of Taiwan, and given a list of ten dissidents whose fate worries Paris. Peking of our special correspondents
Jacques Chirac has just reaffirmed with force, during his weekend in Peking, his support for the Chinese mode. As well on the question "total strategic partnership" as it wants to reinforce with the popular Republic, as on that of Taiwan and of the development of the economic and commercial relations, the philosophy of the French president is clear: it is not by ostracizing China that one will prevent it from becoming a political and strategic threat, quite to the contrary.
Like says it its entourage, it is better to bet on more open and more integrated China, pledge of a reassuring evolution of the empire of the Medium.
Mr. Chirac continues thus with the new strong man of Peking, president Hu Jintao, a dialogue intended to reconcile the favours of a country to the promising prospects. "We had never signed as many contracts during a visit" , make a point of underlining the close relations of Mr. Chirac. They as put forward as "China has just saved Alstom, which was at the edge of the bankruptcy" after the signing of a contract of 1,5 billion euros.
In this spirit, the head of the State reaffirmed that it was necessary to raise the embargo on the weapons to China, measures imposed in 1989 the shortly after the massacre of Tiananmen. "This embargo does not have any justification and any consequence. It is a simply hostile measurement of circumstance purely and with regard to China!" , it declared Saturday, at the time of the joint press conference with the president the French Hu. And president to notice: "the North Korea is not subjected to the embargo. It is to say that we are there in a situation which does not have (...) any base "...
RANGE SYMBOLIC SYSTEM
The embargo relates to the sales of "lethal" weapons, i.e. offensive in opposition to weapons of defense. But the French president supports that the Chinese are able to produce this category of armaments, making all the more null and void the prolongation of such a measurement. Mr. Chirac hopes that the other European Convention countries will join him to denounce it. "majority of the European countries - y are favorable" , affirms the head of the State.
For the Chinese, the lifting of the embargo would have an undeniable range symbolic system. "One cannot treat China like a partner continuously with the marginaliser on the level strategic and military" , to Sunday a close relation of the president entrusted. Moreover, makes it observe, after the lifting of the embargo, the modus operandi of sales of weapons will be subjected to the control of three authorities: the "European code of conduct", which governs the sales of weapons abroad; treaty MTCR on the missiles and the CIEEMG, the French interdepartmental committee where the contracts of weapons are evaluated.
In spite of the sharp protests of Taiwan, in January, when Mr. Chirac had described as "serious error" and D ' "initiative irresponsible" the organization of a referendum by the president of the nationalist island, it reiterated Saturday its support for the Chinese position. "France is worried by an increasing tension in this area and includes/understands perfectly the position of president Hu" , underlined Mr. Chirac. In other words, it supports the "unicity of China "asserted by Peking against supposed inclinations" independence "of the current government taïwanais, constantly denounced by the Pekinese mode. Even if the small handkerchief of pocket which was used as refuge to the members of Kouomintang after their defeat against the Communists continues to be under the threat of some 600 missiles of the continent...
With regard to the democratic rights, Mr. Chirac was satisfied to present at his counterpart a list of ten Chinese dissidents whose fate remains alarming. List whose Elysium refuses "like always" communicating the names. The position of Hu Jintao however hardly leaves the place to the prospect for a democratization of its country.
In answer to the question of a journalist who asked him at the time of the press conference if the Communist Party would modify one day its judgement concerning the massacre of Tiananmen, it declared: "the Chinese government took all measurements to alleviate the situation and works to remain firm in its policy; for these last years, we have been able to maintain stability to continue on the way of the opening and the reform." And to add in substance that the possibility of a "inventory" on Tiananmen does not take place to be...
Arrived Monday to Shanghai, Mr. Chirac abounded in this direction: "We were happy that president Hu Jintao chooses the French French National Assembly - at the time of his arrival in France, in January to affirm his will to continue to advance China on the way of the civil laws and political like on that of fundamental freedoms" , said the head of the State in a speech made to the Tongji university
It is really hard to believe that France would be on the side of a communist country. Not!
Well, Chirac has a track record of supporting, and taking money from, hostile dictatorships. Why stop now??? One could easily suggest the WORLD WILL BE A SAFER PLACE WHEN THE CHRIAC REGIME HAS BEEN CHANGED....also note the pandering which is supposed to "make China less of a threat"...does this have a FAMILIAR RING TO IT ????
Well, as long as it's subject to the European Code of Conduct, everything will be OK.
The rationalization is disingenuous. Because the Chinese can make weapons, we should sell them to the Chinese. But if the Chinese could make the weapons they want to buy, they would build them at home.
France reminds me of a little chihuahua nipping at your heels. You know they can't hurt you but they bug you all the time. Why anyone cares what they say boggles my mind.
Since Chriac los the income from Iraq, he needs to substitute, why not China - and it should not take long until Kerry endorses the lifitng of the sanctions, after all, he too meet with the communist leader a few yrs ago.
Doing business with the Chinese is risky. They will be happy to reem the French. Good luck Jocko.
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