European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on
Wednesday that maintaining the EU ban on sales of arms to China is
"unfair" as the situation has changed since its imposition in
1989.
"It is not justified to maintain it (the embargo)," Solana told
reporters as he arrived for an EU summit, which opened Tuesday in
Brussels.
Solana said China is making progress on human rights, calling
attention to the US decision this year not to present a resolution
on human rights against China at the current session of the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights.
"Things are moving (on human rights)," he said, noting the EU
conducts a regular dialogue with China on the subject.
Solana said the 25-nation bloc was still assessing the issue but
was moving toward "a political decision to end a situation that we
think is unfair to maintain sanctions against China."
The European Union, keen to boost trade and diplomatic ties with
China, agreed in principle last December to lift the ban by the end
of June. The United States is bitterly opposed to the plan, saying
it would exacerbate tensions in the Taiwan Straits.
Some media have reported that under mounting pressure from the
United States, the EU may put off plans to lift the embargo until
next year.
(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2005)