Posted on 02/26/2005 12:29:01 PM PST by wagglebee
The European Union's (EU) resumption of arms sales to China "is a dangerous development that runs counter to the advance of liberty and threatens U.S. security interests, as well as those of Japan and Taiwan," charges Rep. Henry Hyde, R-IL.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Thursday, Hyde, Chairman of the House International Relations Committee disputed the EU's contention that the arms embargo against China is no longer warranted on human-rights grounds.
Hyde scoffed at the claim, noting, "The many Chinese citizens who remain in prison 15 years later for activities related to Tiananmen might feel differently."
"The Communist Party remains firmly in power and permits few choices about what can be said publicly in exercise of personal liberty," Hyde added.
"The major European countries have resumed arms sales to China at an alarming pace and plan to terminate altogether the arms embargo imposed by the EU following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre," Hyde wrote.
"This is part of a 'strategic partnership' that the EU proclaimed at its summit meeting with China last December ... The new EU policy will provide the Chinese leadership with a significant propaganda coup and strike a blow to the pro-democracy movement in China," the lawmaker noted.
Rep. Hyde wrote further that he found it even more disturbing that EU security policy toward China "is on a collision course with America's extensive security interests in Asia. The U.S. security posture in Asia has been the decisive factor in ensuring regional stability and prosperity since the end of World War II.
"Today, however, U.S. military planners and commanders are confronting a substantial Chinese military buildup, which includes deployment of approximately 500 short-range ballistic missiles across the Taiwan Strait and intercontinental missiles that can reach U.S. shores."
In the face of this threat, Hyde wrote, "European arms technology will only enhance the complexity, reliability and lethality of China's growing arsenal. They will also increase the likelihood that Beijing will acquire growing confidence in resolving the status of Taiwan and countering America's security posture in Asia elsewhere with the threat or use of force."
Noting that European arms sales to China doubled in a one-year period to the tune of half a billion dollars, Hyde argued, "Under the planned EU policy, weapons technology and know-how will flow to China at increasing levels and with increasing speed, much of it unlicensed or subject to 'open' licenses which go mainly unreported."
Hyde concluded, "This is a moment when the voices of thoughtful Europeans need to be heard above those who are easily seduced by lucrative Chinese contracts. The choice for Europe could not be clearer: it is between policies that promote the development of democracy in China or those that support China's military buildup and threaten U.S. security interests. This choice calls to mind the words of William Gladstone: 'Nothing that is morally wrong can be politically right.'"
I don't think there are too many "thoughtful" Europeans left.
We need to intercept their shipments. If they want to try and sell to China, we're not going to bomb them in response, but we can make it extremely unprofitable by seizing their exports before they make it to the buyer.
Having worked to pacify their continent with a view towards lasting peace, they now revive the arms business that spawned their wars for export. Nice people!
"I smell sanctions coming."
I think you're right. The question for Hyde is not whether it is bad, it is what he and the Congress are prepared to do in order to maintain our security.
It will mean that we do not need to share the JSF's sensitive stealth technology with britain or any of the EU members. Sharing the JSF with any european power was a bad desicion in the first place.
Well we thought we could trust the UK.
Try that with a UK shipment and HM Government will say: "Now, about that early warning system of yours that's in our country, but not for much longer unless you play nice"
I Object to Wagglebees slur of europeans. Few people in euro wanted to lift the embargo and now that move has been stopped, the embargo will be strengtened. The move to lift it was from europes biggest arms dealers The French Germans and the British. In any case if you are to apose something you need moral authorty, something america has little or none of right now. You sold arms to Iran (f-5's f-14's and heilcopters plus arms albit to resque the hostages there in the 1970's), Gave Money and intelligence to Iraq, Weapons to Isreal which they sold to China (the f-16) and you trained Osima Bin Ladan (While he was fighting the USSR). So if you want to stop weapons spreading around start with your own arms dealers!.
Okay, troll. Whatever you say. Hope you enjoy your future in Eurabiastan.
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