Posted on 03/20/2005 3:01:12 PM PST by Indy Pendance
* Says European Union’s move to resume weapons sales to China threatens to upset the balance of power in the Pacific
BEIJING: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suggested on Sunday that European governments are irresponsible if they sell sophisticated weaponry to China that might one day be used against US forces in the Pacific.
“It is the United States, not Europe, that is defending the Pacific,” Rice said. She spoke in Seoul, the penultimate stop on her weeklong tour of Asia.
South Korea, Japan and the United States are all Pacific powers and all contribute resources to keep the Asia-Pacific region stable, Rice said.
The European Union may soon lift an arms embargo on China that was imposed after the deadly 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square. Lifting the embargo would allow sale of technology and weapons that China badly wants to modernise its creaky military. China has recently gone on a military spending spree that Rice said concerns the United States.
“The European Union should do nothing to contribute,” to the possibility that Chinese forces might turn European technology on Americans, Rice said after meetings with the South Korean president and foreign minister.
Rice has earlier said that China’s recent statements about a possible invasion of Taiwan should give the Europeans pause. China passed a law this month codifying its intention to use military force against Taiwan should the island declare formal independence.
Rice said she would raise US objections to the Taiwan development with Chinese officials in two days of talks, along with long-standing concerns over Chinese human rights practices and violations of intellectual property rights.
Rice will also ask China for more help to persuade communist North Korea to return to international nuclear disarmament talks.
The Pyongyang government of Kim Jong Il announced last month what the United States has long suspected: It has already built at least one nuclear weapon.
The United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea and China began a joint diplomatic effort with North Korea last year aimed at persuading the country to give up its nuclear programme.
But those six-nation talks, hosted by China, stalled in September, when the North Koreans pulled out and refused to return to the discussions.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said any European Union move to resume weapons sales to China threatens to upset the balance of power in the Pacific. “We have managed over the last decades to maintain a stable environment” in the Pacific, Rice told reporters in Seoul before flying to Beijing. “And obviously, anything that would appear to try and alter that balance would be a concern to us.”
Rice, in Asia for talks this week, arrived Saturday in Seoul to meet with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and other officials to discuss ways to lure North Korea back to nuclear disarmament negotiations. Rice’s visit to China follows the country’s decision to codify a threat to attack Taiwan if the island declares independence.
European nations are considering resuming weapons sales to China that were suspended after the deadly 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters at Tiananmen Square. The Bush administration opposes the move, citing a possible breakdown in the region’s security balance. ap
Colin: We don't miss you one bit.
Condi Rocks.
Yet another proof that the Europeans are no longer allies and may actually wish the US ill.
What will it take to convince the Democrats in Congress.
Good for Condi---she doesn't pull her punches!!!!
The EU has ruined Europe and even some Europeans feel that way. It is like an untamed gorilla itching to get back at the big,bad USA.
Sad!
It would be a shame if those arms shipments from Europe headed to China ended up at the bottom of the Pacific. ;)
European socialists denounce the merchants of death (or at least they used to), but the European Left is fine with selling arms to the Chinese communists. Just as the European Left was objectively speaking reactionary in its efforts to stop the US and its allies from toppling Saddam, it is now an ally of the merchants of death. So much for its progressive clap trap about peace.
I think the Democrats are convinced. Why do you think the Democrats idolize the European ways so much? They both wish ill on the U.S.
Thanks for the link!
The truth always makes me sleep better.
Thank you Secretary Rice for the truth!
Exactly. Too bad, check the link out in #5.
You're very welcome.
She's making a great SoS so far.
Give it time and Dubya's choice will prove to be the best choice.
Thus, her agenda is much more easily understood and accepted.
For the most part, he does have a knack for this presidency thing.
As compare to what?
Clinton, terrorists, Carter, appeasment, any dem policy.... I think I'm most impressed with his resolve, what he says he's going to do, he does, he rarely changes his direction, and if he does, it's to get the ship back on course, and you can tell, he really has thought out the decisions and policies. He'd be really formidable if he tackled the immigration issue. I've heard it said, a great president tackles 2-3 issues at most, and the 9-11 terrorists attacks probably account for a lot of his time. *sigh*
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