Written question asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 January 2006. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Tuesday, 31 January 2006 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

China

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the transfer of Chinese missile technology to Iran; and if the Government support lifting the EU arms embargo on China.

Answer: Countering the threat of missile proliferation remains one of the Government's strategic priorities, particularly where such proliferation might contribute to the delivery of weapons of mass destruction. We seek to monitor missile-related transfers to Iran in this context. Assessments of proliferation activity often draw on highly classified information; it is impossible, therefore, to comment on specific aspects.The Government support the decision of the European Council in December 2003 to review the EU arms embargo on China. This review is on-going—it was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at December's General Affairs and External Relations Council. The Government do not wish to exclude any options for the review, or to pre-empt the conclusion of the review. There is no consensus at present in the EU for lift. Further consultations in the EU and with other international partners are necessary before any decision is taken. In the context of these discussions the EU recalls the European Council Conclusions in December 2004 that any decision on the arms embargo would not result in an increase of arms exports to China in either quantitative or qualitative terms.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 442 c352-3W;442 c352-3W; 47425
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Arms trade China EU action Weapons Technology Sanctions Iran Guided weapons
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk