Mick Hartley

So now they’re admitting there’s a problem:

Europe is reconsidering plans to lift its arms embargo on China in the light of America’s implacable opposition and a new Chinese threat against Taiwan.
Several European Union member states have got “cold feet”, making it “significantly” more likely that the EU will eventually drop its controversial plan, senior diplomatic sources have told The Times.

At the very least, the decision is likely to be postponed.

“Taking our time rather than rushing may not be a bad idea,” one EU official said. […]

Britain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Scandinavian countries and Luxembourg — which holds the EU’s rotating presidency — are among those having second thoughts. Greens in the ruling coalition in Germany are also uneasy with the proposal. A decision to lift the embargo must be agreed unanimously by all 25 EU member states.

Jack Straw betrayed Britain’s unease on Sunday when he said that the unanimous approval by the Chinese Parliament last week of legislation authorising force if Taiwan formally declared independence had “created quite a difficult political environment”.

It would be interesting to know what’s been going on behind the scenes. That letter to the Times from Gisela Stuart last week now looks as though it reflects Jack Straw’s position.