Should the EU arms embargo against China be lifted? Political and practical implications

Gudrun Wacker

No 4/2004, SWP Comments from Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), German Institute for International and Security Affairs

Abstract: The EU seems ready to move towards lifting its 15 year old arms embargo against China. The governments of France and Germany favour such a revision. To China, the embargo is a relic of the Cold War that hinders co-operation with the EU. The EU Summit of 24-26 March, however, did not make a decision (which has to be unanimous). Some member states have not yet come forward with a clear position. There are still discussions concerning not only possible human-rights concessions by China, but also the question of whether the termination of the embargo would be a largely symbolic act, without any real effect on the arms export policies of the EU member states. The U.S. position, however, is quite clear: Washington opposes lifting the embargo. Should the EU end it, China policy could become another source of transatlantic tension. (SWP-Comments / SWP)

Date: 2004
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