Saturday, February 12, 2005
EU AND CHINA – MORE BAD NEWS
The EU’s relations to China are in the news ever more frequently, in this case my interest was roused by this must-read article by Hans Binnendijk, director of the Center for Technology and National Security Policy at the National Defense University in Washington. It underlines again the potentially catastrophic consequences for transatlantic relations, national security and the stability of the pacific region of the EU going ahead with its plans to lift the arms embargo on China. (And just to clear it up, the economic argument for such an unlimited arms trade is virtually non-existent as David Leigh and Samuel Brittan has shown repeatedly.)
Richard North pointed out that this would undoubtedly lead to the US using its missile defence weapons to destroy the Gallileo sattelites. Just try and picture that in full. It would make the transatlantic rifts and arguments over Iraq look like a Sunday picnic. It is given a further little spice for us in the UK. It is possible, if not certain yet, that in July and the previous December, and it is clear that nothing on this front has improved. But don’t expect to hear much about this in the coming election campaign.
The EU’s relations to China are in the news ever more frequently, in this case my interest was roused by this must-read article by Hans Binnendijk, director of the Center for Technology and National Security Policy at the National Defense University in Washington. It underlines again the potentially catastrophic consequences for transatlantic relations, national security and the stability of the pacific region of the EU going ahead with its plans to lift the arms embargo on China. (And just to clear it up, the economic argument for such an unlimited arms trade is virtually non-existent as David Leigh and Samuel Brittan has shown repeatedly.)
Richard North pointed out that this would undoubtedly lead to the US using its missile defence weapons to destroy the Gallileo sattelites. Just try and picture that in full. It would make the transatlantic rifts and arguments over Iraq look like a Sunday picnic. It is given a further little spice for us in the UK. It is possible, if not certain yet, that in July and the previous December, and it is clear that nothing on this front has improved. But don’t expect to hear much about this in the coming election campaign.
Labels: China, defence, EU, USA
