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Chirac tells Japan desire to lift EU arms embargo of China 'legitimate'

French President Jacques Chirac told a concerned Japan that China's desire for the European Union to lift its arms embargo was "legitimate" and would not entail exports of sensitive weapons and technology. France has been a prime supporter of ending the ban on selling arms to China, a move opposed by both the United States and its ally Japan. "The prime minister told me of his concerns. He asked me for explanations," Chirac told a joint news conference after talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. "I indicated to him that the decision of the European Union does not imply a change in exports of sensitive arms or technology to China as they are subject to rules which cannot be broken," Chirac said. "Hence the decision does not mean things would change. It's a political decision," he said. "We believe that this lifting is legitimately sought by China and that's why we have taken this decision."

Is it just me, or does that statement make no sense?

Koizumi reiterated Japan's opposition to lifting the embargo, imposed after China's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1989. "We told the president that we are against it," Koizumi said. "In China, military spending had seen double-digit growth for more than 10 years. As for Japan, the defense spending has been on decline over the past three straight years," Koizumi said. "Japan does not regard China's economic growth as a threat. Rather we regard it as an opportunity. However, in relation to security concerns such as the Taiwan issue Japan has been asking for a peaceful resolution," Koizumi said.

The European Union had initially set a goal of lifting the ban by the end of June, when the presidency of the 25-member bloc shifts from Luxembourg to Britain. Britain had suggested that the end of the weapons sale ban could be delayed after China on March 14 gave its army legal power to invade Taiwan if the island seeks formal independence. But Chirac has vowed to push ahead and end the embargo by the end of June. A joint statement after talks between Chirac and Koizumi said the two countries sought to understand each other. "France expressed its desire to contribute actively with Japan to peace and the lasting stability of the region," the statement said. It said Japan believed "there are a number of major uncertainties" in "the security situation in East Asia." Chirac and Koizumi said the two countries agreed to expand dialogue "to follow the evolution of the situation in the region and to develop common views."
Then the Japanese announced arms sales to the French terrorist organization AZF, "Which they have assured us are for peaceful uses only and would never be used to assassinate French politicians, you treacherous, round-eyed S.O.B."
Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-03-27

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