The European Union (EU) is considering to lift the ban of arms
sale to China, the foreign ministers' meeting of EU members and
would-be members revealed Monday.
On Monday afternoon, the foreign ministers, who met for the
first time this year, discussed the arms embargo to China but they
did not reach a resolution on the issue.
"The (EU) Council had a first discussion and ministers have
invited COREPER and COPS to examine and will revert," said Irish
Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, who chaired Monday's meeting as
Ireland is holding the EU Presidency.
The COREPER (the Permanent Representatives Committee),
consisting of ambassadors from all EU members, the COPS (the
Standing Political and Security Committee) are both coordinating
organs under the EU Council.
Both Javier Solana, EU high representative for common foreign
and security policy, and European Commissioners for external
affairs Christopher Patten were in favor of reviewing the
embargo.
"It is quite clear the situation in China has changed
dramatically and the new leadership represents the next
generation," said Patten at a press conference after the
meeting.
He noted that China's human rights situation has improved since
the EU imposed the ban, though the EU is not fully satisfied with
China's human rights record.
Last October, China issued its EU policy paper, urging the EU to
"lift its ban on arms sales to China at an early date."
At the EU summit last December, the EU leaders ordered the EU
Council to "reexamine the question of the embargo on the sale of
arms to China."
(Xinhua News Agency 27, 2004)