YFG opposes lifting of EU Arms Embargo on CHina

international | eu | press release Tuesday March 22, 2005 14:15 by John Carroll - International Secretary - Young Fine Gael jjcarrol at tcd dot ie 51 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2

Young Fine Gael (YFG) has had its call to oppose the immediate lifting of the Arms Embargo on China unless a wide number of conditions are meet , endorsed by the Youth of the European People’s Party (YEPP). This is another step forward in the campaign against the lifting of the Arms Embargo as YEPP represents the youth wings of over 2 million young people and over 50 political parties across Europe, including the French UMP, the German CDU, and Forza Italia.

YFG International Secretary John Carroll speaking at the Congress of YEPP in Paris this weekend: “However despite the opposition of a huge number of forces across Europe and abroad to the lifting of the ban, it is becoming increasingly clear that a large number of European Union states are moving towards lifting this it. The manner in which this is being done gives grave cause for concern, as it is becoming increasingly apparent that minimal concessions are being sought from China in return for lifting this embargo, and the principle consideration of some EU states in this matter would appear to the be trade related, rather than any belief that China has mended her ways in any significant manner. The Arms Embargo is a hugely important political weapon against China and should not be lightly lifted”

John Carroll continued: “Indeed, in light of the recent legislative changes in China, that give greater scope for the Chinese government to consider military action against Taiwan, the lifting of the embargo would seem ill thought out. Therefore, Young Fine Gael calls on the EU Heads of State, to reject the possibility of ending the Arms Embargo unless the Chinese government agrees to undertake a number of serious human rights and political reforms, and for progress on those reforms to be reported to the European Parliament with the possibility of a reintroduction of the embargo if they are not meet.”

“Furthermore, the EU Heads of State must agree to strengthen the Code of Conduct on Arms sales so that in the future, if the Arms Embargo is lifted, the possibility of arms getting into the hands of any government that represses its people and is belligerent to its neighbours is limited.”

“The Irish government should take the lead in opposing the lifting of the embargo without the necessary changes taking place.”