UK to block EU plan to ease China arms embargo

[aimarraul]

UK to block EU plan to ease China arms embargo
by Joel Shenton 04 November 2011

The United Kingdom is set to resist any plans by European leaders to relax arms sales restrictions against China in return for Chinese financial assistance in the eurozone crisis, it has been reported.

An arms sales ban was put in place in Europe after China used military force against protesters in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in 1989.

Now Europe finds itself in continued financial difficulty and the European Union is looking to leverage its bail-out fund to €1tn with the help of investment from cash-rich emerging economies such as China.

Before the eurozone crisis deepened, European leaders were publicly considering lifting the ban, along with other restrictions. In January, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton suggested the EU "should discuss its [the embargo's] practical implication and design a way forward".

At the time, Downing Street said the time was "not right" for the lifting of the ban and Foreign Secretary William Hague is once again said to be prepared to resist any such move.

A statement released by Chinese state-run media agency Xinhua said the country would never stop demanding EU restrictions be lifted and that there was a "prejudicial" assumption that it would demand their lifting in exchange for financial help.

"Even if the debt crisis had not happened and the EU had not sought Chinese help, China would never stop demanding that the EU abandon its obsolete mentality and take a more open-minded approach on issues of currency disputes, high-tech export restrictions, arms sales embargo and human rights censure.

"Simply put, China's goodwill deserves fair treatment from the EU."

This article first appeared on PublicServiceEurope.com's sister site Defencemanagement.com: UK to resist China arms ban repeal

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

We develop our technologies the fastest when under embargo.

So lifting the embargo is only symbolic, we are not going to buy much from them anyway.

I would much prefer economic concessions, to futher allow our exports into the vast European markets.

 

[Chinese Century]

china needs to get high tech exports from europe, especially the high end precision manufacturing machinery and equipment.
china should demand no discrimination in chinese buying european brands.

 

[HavocHeaven]

Such embargo will only boost the development of Chinese military technologies. Think about it, what did they get by blocking China from ISS, Galileo navigation satellite constellation and 3rd-generation military aviation tech? China would not have planed for Tiangong station, Compass GNSS and even J-10/J-20 if not blocked by the west. GJ your blocking works counterproductively.

 

[HavocHeaven]

We develop our technologies the fastest when under embargo.

So lifting the embargo is only symbolic, we are not going to buy much from them anyway.

I would much prefer economic concessions, to futher allow our exports into the vast European markets.

Well I would like to see cooperation between China and Germany/France. Actually we have many collaborations with them now. We are also working with Denmark in Arctic exploration. **** off, UK and Poland.

 

[Sasquatch]

Well Currently I have been going on with lifting the Embargo however I'm having second thoughts it has strengthen us into Self sufficiency and Soon it won't be long before Our weapons are better then Russia and the EU, however As chinese dragon said ''economic concessions, to futher allow our exports into the vast European markets''

 

[Imran Khan]

wait wait man when UK become at same place of bankruptcy they will asking few billions for whole damn package of weapons

 

[Akasa]

Only if the EU could see the irony.

China doesn't need the embargo to be lifted. Chinese military technology have surpassed the EU in most major fronts and are approaching that of Russia and the US. China only wants it lifted because of the symbolic gesture it represents. China does not want the EU to view it as an enemy, but the embargo only shows that.

However, the EU does need China's help in economy. It's no longer symbolic. It's their lifeline.

So if they leave the embargo, then so be it. It's not going to have any effect on future of PLA. China could refuse to help their economy. Then they are going to see a definite effect.

 

[Sasquatch]

Embargo has strengthen us, soon we will have better Weapons then Russia and the EU within the next 10 years.

 

[somebozo]

Even if the embargo is not lifted, the cash rich Chinese will be able to maneuver enough for causing a sharp split in EU which will then be beneficial to them in the future.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Please, just keep embargoing us.

---------- Post added at 10:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 PM ----------

Embargo has strengthen us, soon we will have better Weapons then Russia and the EU within the next 10 years.

Both Russia and Europe only have few niche advantages over us right now.

Our goal is to surpass the mighty USA.

 

[Obambam]

The funny thing is the UK till this very day is still refusing to use same currency despite being a part of the EU. I wonder for how much longer the rest of the EU will continue to tolerate them for. Like CD says, China grew fastest and become so self sufficient thanks to the embargoes. It is an irritant, but it does not bother or have drastic impacts to our economy or growth. Just don't let us see them coming over with its begging bowl in the near future

 

[crimemaster_gogo]

Even if the embargo is not lifted, the cash rich Chinese will be able to maneuver enough for causing a sharp split in EU which will then be beneficial to them in the future.

liked the way your brain works

 

[53fd]

The UK is nothing but a joke now.

 

[AUz]

The joke is actually on those Pakistanis lining up outside the UK embassy in Islamabad as also on those already in UK.

Off-topic ? Troll? Why your rectum start burning when anyone says anything about UK? Oh wait? You are a bharti