Written question asked by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 July 2005.

EU: China Arms Embargo

Question: Whether, during their presidency of the European Union, they will resist attempts to weaken the European Union’s arms embargo against China; and whether they will seek to commission a European Union investigation of the alleged Chinese sale of jet fighters and military vehicles to Zimbabwe.

Answer: The review of the EU arms embargo on China is ongoing. The UK, as president of the EU, will continue to work with EU partners to take forward work on the review, subject to satisfaction of the criteria laid out in the conclusions of the European Council in December 2004.The UK has, in our bilateral discussions with China on strategic export controls and as part of EU-China discussions, stressed the importance of refusing exports where there is a clear risk that they might be used for internal repression. While we cannot prevent third countries selling arms to Zimbabwe, we try to monitor such sales, and lobby against them, at national or EU level, where possible. The Chinese authorities are well aware of our views on the supply of military equipment to Zimbabwe and other regimes subject to EU arms embargoes. We will continue to uphold the EU’s arms embargo on Zimbabwe.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 785; 673 c94WA
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Arms trade China EU action EU external trade Sanctions Zimbabwe EU external relations Foreign trade
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk