China has urged the European Union to proceed without delay with plans to lift an arms embargo on it. The Chinese government has said the embargo was outdated and was political discrimination.
The EU had planned to lift the ban by the end of June, but was likely to delay these plans after China passed legislation this month on the use of military force against Taiwan. China has claimed self-ruled Taiwan as its own.
‘We hope the EU will make the political decision to lift the ban as soon as possible. It's unreasonable to link China pushing the EU to lift the arms embargo and China passing the anti-secession law,’ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news conference.
The spokesman said the new legislation on Taiwan was aimed at containing Taiwan separatist forces, and at peaceful reunification.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said lifting the arms embargo on China has become more difficult since the passing of the anti-secession law.
The US opposes the lifting of the EU ban, and has threatened to forego giving approval for technology transfers to the EU if the embargo is lifted.
On her trip to Asia, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said lifting the ban could alter the military balance in the region.
