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

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 discussion 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.