{
  "id": "RL32785",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL32785",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 102259,
      "date": "2005-03-01",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:51:43.913029",
      "title": "European Union's Arms Control Regime and Arms Exports to China: Background and Legal Analysis",
      "summary": "In recent months, discussions have been held within the European Union (EU) on the question\nof\nlifting the embargo on arms exports to the People\u2019s Republic of China that was imposed on\nChina\non June 27, 1989. The prospect that the EU would lift its embargo on arms exports to China has led\nto a number of on-going discussions between EU member states and the United States government,\nwhich strongly opposes such an action at this time on human rights and security issues grounds. Key\nnations within the European Union, particularly France and Germany, strongly support lifting of the\nembargo. And, the United Kingdom has advised the Bush Administration that it will also support\nlifting the embargo when the subject is formally addressed by the EU, most likely during the spring\nof 2005.\n \n The Council of the EU has stated that if the arms embargo on China were to be lifted, that\naction should not result in either a quantitative or qualitative increase in EU arms exports to China. \nThe United Kingdom has argued that it believes that the European Union\u2019s Code of Conduct\non\nArms Exports, while not legally binding on EU members, with some enhancements, would provide\na solid safeguard against worrisome arms exports by EU states to the Chinese in the future. \n \n The President and senior members of the Bush Administration have lobbied the European\nUnion to keep the arms embargo on China in place. Many Members of Congress share the Bush\nAdministration\u2019s concerns about an end to the EU arms embargo. On February 2, 2005, the\nHouse\nof Representatives passed H. Res. 57, a resolution strongly urging the EU not to lift the embargo,\nby a vote of 411-3. Other Congressional actions on the issue may be taken.\n \n This report provides detailed background and legal analysis of the nature of the current\nEuropean Union embargo on arms exports to China. It also provides detailed background on the\nEuropean Union\u2019s current Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. A strengthened version of\nthe Code\nwould be one of the control mechanisms that would remain should the EU lift the embargo on arms\nexports to China. This report also gives information on recent EU arms exports authorized for\nChina. It further summarizes U.S. concerns regarding the lifting of the arms embargo, and notes the\nprospective timing of EU action on the embargo issue. This report may be updated should events\nwarrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
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          "format": "PDF",
          "encoding": null,
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL32785",
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          "images": null
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      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Affairs",
    "National Defense"
  ]
}