Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

FOREIGN MINISTER URGES E.U. NOT TO LIFT ARMS EMBARGO ON CHINA

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-15 23:35:16

    Taipei, March 15 (CNA) Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sun Chen urged the European Union Tuesday not to lift its arms embargo on China before the human rights situation is improved and a democratic system is implemented there.

    In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chen thanked the E.U. on behalf of the Republic of China government for its concern about the Taiwan Strait issue.

    The ROC government welcomes the statement issued by the E.U. Monday in the wake of China's enactment of the Anti-Secession Law that expresses its opposition to the use of any kind of military force in the Taiwan Strait.

    Chen called on the E.U. to uphold the universal values of democracy, justice and human rights and not to lift the arms embargo it has imposed since the Tiananmen massacre of 1989.

    The lifting of the arms embargo will jeopardize the stability and peace of the Asia-Pacific region, he warned.

(By Huang Kwang-chun)

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