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EU Remains Torn On Lifting China Arms Embargo

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EU Remains Torn On Lifting China Arms Embargo




BRUSSELS - Europe remains divided on whether to lift an arms embargo clamped on China in 1989 following events in Tiananmen Square, EU foreign ministers said Sept. 11.

"We discussed delivering arms to China but did not advance at all towards a solution or joint position", French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said at the close of two days of informal talks with his 26 EU counterparts.


"France has long been favorable" to ending the embargo, he said. "But we need a joint stand."

His Luxembourg counterpart, Jean Asselborn, said he was "disappointed" at the division. "We're not yet ready to do this, which I sincerely regret."

"We could've offered an exchange: we raise the embargo and you ratify the convention on civil and political rights," he added.

A document examined by the ministers that was obtained by AFP raised the idea of lifting the embargo against conditions, such as improved ties with Taiwan, an amnesty for arrests linked to events at Tiananmen, and a calendar for the ratification of the rights treaty.


AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 11 Sep 2010 15:03
 
Europe's arms embargo was never as tight and comprehensive as the U.S's, China can get a lot of state-of-the-art components and subsystems from Europe anyway.
 
While US is selling Billions of weapons around the world, while it holds Europe to not sell to China and Europe complying with it, what an irony.

But as said, such bans gives nations the imputes to build their own infrastructure.

China in the past and currently (in limited way) may have suffered due to non-availability of hitech weapon systems, but in few years time, when it will be making the same and superior quality weapon systems around the world and earning Billions, the Europeans would be regretting their decision.
 
While US is selling Billions of weapons around the world, while it holds Europe to not sell to China and Europe complying with it, what an irony.

But as said, such bans gives nations the imputes to build their own infrastructure.

China in the past and currently (in limited way) may have suffered due to non-availability of hitech weapon systems, but in few years time, when it will be making the same and superior quality weapon systems around the world and earning Billions, the Europeans would be regretting their decision.


Why should they regret ?
Its a competition . They might regret that they have given some technology know-how in the past, if China overtakes their military sales.
 
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Why should they regret ?
Its a competition . They might regret they have given some technology know-how in the past, if China overtakes their military sales.

They will regret to not have sold Billions before having given the full tech to them.

Look at the Russians, they agreed for transfer of tech for the Su-27s but before that they would have sold them good number of planes so that they can have Billions and do more research and make other products, but the Russians gave the Chinese problems in the tech transfer, thus the Chinese cancelled the rest of the deal for planes and started to make the jet even though they had quiet a number of problems in making the parts of the jet which the Russians did not gave tech for, but the Chinese overcame this problem and now their own J-11 except for engine is up and running and they are making more evolved platforms, thus even with Europeans China would have one way or another made the things which it wanted.

Europeans gave them the tech, but had they continued, they may have gotten rewards out of the Chinese for making them and selling it abroad, but now China is the sole beneficiary.

Also Europeans gave them tech for very limited things and not offensive systems. Which by the way the Chinese have improve, evolved and made more better platforms compared to the tech which was given to them initially.

So Europe may have done joint collaborations with them, somehow protected their own interests, made cheap parts from China and lowered their costs and sold more systems. Just like they are doing now, joint helicopter program which China's military may induct also as well as civilian sales, airbus parts being manufactured & full aircraft being assembled in China.

So a give and take policy.
 
They will regret to not have sold Billions before having given the full tech to them.



.

So a give and take policy.

Protectionism, copyrights, long term plans are the reasons behind the decision.

Quick money works for some , not for the responsible ones.
 
Protectionism, copyrights, long term plans are the reasons behind the decision.

Quick money works for some , not for the responsible ones.

Not in 1989 it wasn't, anyway if it wasn't for the embargo China would have fallen behind on their ability to manufacture arms as mentioned by Che, so its actually a good thing. This is not the first time a country to resort to developing its own weapons because it was at the mercy of other nations.

Singapore
Created its own howitzer because US did not want to sell us what they deemed offensive weapons. We now have a decent Weapons complex for small to mid range arms.

Israel

Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. (IAI) is a state-owned aerospace manufacturer. IAI has accounted for about 9 percent of Israel's exports and is the country's largest employer. The company's strengths include overhauling and converting jet fighters and large commercial transports, and manufacturing UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

Israel has had armed conflicts with its neighbors dating back to the country's founding in 1948. The development of a domestic defense industry would become even more of a priority after France embargoed arms sales to the country after the Six Day War in 1967.
 
Not in 1989 it wasn't, anyway if it wasn't for the embargo China would have fallen behind on their ability to manufacture arms as mentioned by Che, so its actually a good thing. This is not the first time a country to resort to developing its own weapons because it was at the mercy of other nations.

Singapore
Created its own howitzer because US did not want to sell us what they deemed offensive weapons. We now have a decent Weapons complex for small to mid range arms.

Israel

Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. (IAI) is a state-owned aerospace manufacturer. IAI has accounted for about 9 percent of Israel's exports and is the country's largest employer. The company's strengths include overhauling and converting jet fighters and large commercial transports, and manufacturing UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

Israel has had armed conflicts with its neighbors dating back to the country's founding in 1948. The development of a domestic defense industry would become even more of a priority after France embargoed arms sales to the country after the Six Day War in 1967.

It is true, all nationas that face embargo have to work hard to build up their arms industry, and it is always a rewarding effort. South Africa is another example. Also, Iran is showing fruit of its many years of work. In long term embargo actually back fire, and China turned up to be the winner, and they benifited not only in having own arms industry, but also earning more revenue from exports of its arms.
 
It is true, all nationas that face embargo have to work hard to build up their arms industry, and it is always a rewarding effort. South Africa is another example. Also, Iran is showing fruit of its many years of work. In long term embargo actually back fire, and China turned up to be the winner, and they benifited not only in having own arms industry, but also earning more revenue from exports of its arms.

The funny side is the French must have cursed the Germans for not lifting the embargo because it would have been a lucrative pot for them. croissants anyone ? :rofl:
 
It is true, all nationas that face embargo have to work hard to build up their arms industry, and it is always a rewarding effort. South Africa is another example. Also, Iran is showing fruit of its many years of work. In long term embargo actually back fire, and China turned up to be the winner, and they benifited not only in having own arms industry, but also earning more revenue from exports of its arms.

Exactly right. :cheers:
 
Any one here thinks that this is a NATO conspiracy to hamper the development of indigenous tech (just kidding guys)?

I think it is a good idea for China to start purchasing European weapons if the Embargo gets lifted. First Russian weapons, although good, have draw backs of their own especially in the electronics department. Second having diverse sources for weapons may ensure parallel paths for weapons procurement during times of war. This may be important if either Russia or EU decides to terminate weapons transfer for one reason or another.

Finally I think that weapons import should ultimately contribute to indigenous developments and not cause it to lag behind. China needs to catch up with the West desperately and tech transfer will help us fill the gap on important know hows.
 
I wonder what China may wish to buy today?
If embargo would have been lifted 10 years ago it may have attract china but today no chance in Chinese market.
 
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I wonder what China may wish to buy today?
If embargo would have been lifted 10 years ago it may have been attract china but today no chance in Chinese market.

German, British, French, Swedish, Italian make some of the best defence weapons along with Russia and USA. Many countries buy from them. China has long way to go before they built anything in the line of Germany, France or UK.
 
German, British, French, Swedish, Italian make some of the best defence weapons along with Russia and USA. Many countries buy from them. China has long way to go before they built anything in the line of Germany, France or UK.

China make every thing! and is a competitor to all your listed countries.
 
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