Posted on 12/30/2010 7:06:01 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
EU may lift arms sanctions against China by 2011: Report
London, Dec 30, (PTI):
European Union may lift its arms embargo clamped on China in 1989 in the wake of Tiananmen Square crackdown, by early 2011, providing a big boost to the Chinese military which is currently embarked on producing 5th generation fighters and long-range cruise missiles.
The lifting of the embargo on transfer of all lethal weapon technology "could happen very soon", French daily Le Figaro reported quoting sources close to the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
The paper said the issue was raised at the last EU Summit on December 17 and in a confidential presentation major EU powers felt that the embargo may have outlived its purpose.
The report described the embargo as a "major obstacle" to the Euro-Chinese ties and advocated a "move forward", indicating that the lifting of sanctions could be round the corner.
The EU noted that China had grown 15 times richer than in 1989 and was copying and improving the newest Russian fighter bombers and would soon be in a position to challenge US aircraft carriers in the Pacific by deploying indigenous long-range attack missiles.
France and Spain have long campaigned for an end to the embargo. But, Le Figaro said now Netherlands, UK and to an extent Germany had lowered their opposition. The sanctions prohibit sale and transfer of weapons technology to China.
While, other members mooted the idea of making conditional the lifting of sanctions to link it with Beijing improving ties with Taiwan, amnesty for those arrested in Tiananmen Square crackdown and the calender for the ratification of the convention on civil and political rights.
"The embargo on lethal weapons, imposed by EU shortly after the US, has lost over the years its practical justification," Le Figaro said quoting top level EU sources.
Make a buck today and threaten your children’s lives tomorrow. What a deal.
They also lifted arms sanctions against Russia. That’s why France is selling Russia all sorts of goodies, including Minstral craft. Furthermore, other European countries are selling Russia UAV technology.
I am sure this has nothing to do with China offering to bailout the EU.....my understanding is the people of Portugal, Spain, etc. willingly look for a Chinese bailout..../s =.=
Yes, it would. How willing would India be to buy European if they were supplying Beijing at the same time?
It would also be interesting to see how the US responds.
Russia remains India’s largest arms supplier, almost two decades after it secured the same spot with China. And it has competition with the US, which gives away stuff to Pakistan, a Chinese ally which is not exactly friendly with India.
So it will be business as usual-countries like India don’t have too many options other than building up their own domestic capacity.
I suppose. No one here likes giving stuff to Pakistan, but I guess if it allows us to bomb bad guys on their land while they look the other way, we’re getting something from it.
They allow you to bomb the expendable folks. The guys who travel on donkeys and mostly do courier work. Islamic culture has always been flexible with sacrificing its own to survive. If you want the big wigs, go look at ISI safe houses in the big cities.
Besides, military aid in the simplest sense has to be catered to specific needs. I don’t see the US giving F-16s to the Philippines or Yemen though they are also fighting Islamists. So why are the Pakis being given AMRAAMs and Harpoons?? All paid for directly and indirectly through US aid packages.
As it is, the US has whittled down its commitment to projects like the F-22 since 2001 while countries like Pakistan has expanded planes to buy more aircraft from the Chicoms. See the logic??
Don't know about Yemen, but the Philippines is a joke. Their idea of fighting militant jihadists is to coddle, pander, and buy them off. They let them have their bases in Mindanao right under the noses of the army. Yeah. I was there 3 months ago, and I noticed a ton of US and Japan aid projects, mostly in muslim areas...seems they all think they can be bought off.
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