Bush warns of China arms sales

President Bush yesterday expressed “deep concern” that the European Union is planning to lift its arms embargo against China, suggesting that Beijing might use new weaponry against Taiwan, a move that could pose a threat to U.S. forces and other countries in the region.

“There is deep concern in our country that a transfer of weapons would be a transfer of technology to China, which would change the balance of relations between China and Taiwan, and that’s of concern,” Mr. Bush said in a joint press conference in Brussels with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

It was the first time that the president publicly addressed Europe’s desire to lift its arms embargo, which it imposed after Beijing’s 1989 crackdown on unarmed pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square.

Congressional aides said yesterday that Congress is considering legislative action to restrict U.S. technology transfers to Europe if the European Union follows through, which it has said it plans to do as early as June. Yesterday in Brussels, Mr. Bush also threatened the Europeans with possible congressional action.

Earlier this month, the House passed a resolution sponsored by Rep. Henry J. Hyde, Illinois Republican and chairman of the House International Relations Committee, warning the European Union that lifting the embargo could lead to restrictions on U.S. technology transfers to Europe.

The Senate is expected to pass a similar resolution.

“The resumption of arms sales to China represents a potential serious threat to the security of the U.S., Japan and Taiwan, and a diminishment of the European Union’s stated commitment to democratic values,” Mr. Hyde said yesterday through a spokesman.

“In the mad dash to secure lucrative Chinese contracts, more thoughtful Europeans might want to assess the potential damage to trans-Atlantic defense cooperation.”

For his part, Mr. Bush warned that Europe’s plan to limit arms transfers after lifting the embargo through a “code of conduct” would have to be sold to the U.S. Congress.

The president said he raised his concerns during meetings with French President Jacques Chirac, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the European Union.

“And they, to a person, said, ‘Well, they think they can develop a protocol that isn’t — that shouldn’t concern the United States,’” he said. “And I said, ‘I’m looking forward to seeing it’ and that they need to make sure that if they do so, that they sell it to the United States Congress.

“But the Congress will be making the decisions as to whether or not — as to how to react to what will be perceived by some, perhaps, as a technology transfer to China,” he added.

Mr. Bush said both he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have warned European leaders about “the concerns of the United States” on lifting the arms embargo.

“They’re listening to the concerns of the administration, as first articulated by Secretary of State Rice, and they know the Congress’ concern,” he said.

“And so they will try to develop a plan that will ease concerns,” he added. “Now, whether they can or not, we’ll see.”

Story Continues →