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But asked if the European Union embargo would be lifted, Mr Schroeder's blunt reply was: "It will happen. We believe it is justified to trust in the new (Chinese) leadership and give them this possibility."

If the E.U. carries out this threat -— and make no mistake, this would be a genuinely hostile act against the United States -- the transatlantic tiffs of recent years could come to seem minor, and Bush could be saying a final farewell to old allies rather than renewing strategic bonds.

China thankful for hand on EU arms By John Kerin February 18, 2005 From: THE European arms embargo on China is a Cold War relic and Beijing appreciated Australia's decision not to oppose its removal. In a speech in Canberra, China's envoy to Australia, Madam Fu Ying, also said yesterday her country expected to play a bigger role in the region. But she said China would not pose a threat to other countries. Madam Fu was commenting after The Weekend Australian revealed last week that Australia was defying US efforts to dissuade the European Union from lifting its 15-year arms...