SPANISH VIEWS ON EU DELEGATION'S MEETINGS ON CHINA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001140 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2015 TAGS: PREL ETTC CO SP EUN SUBJECT: SPANISH VIEWS ON EU DELEGATION'S MEETINGS ON CHINA ARMS EMBARGO REF: A. STATE 49288 ¶B. MADRID 987 Classified By: Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor for Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The EU failed to make a persuasive case for lifting the EU ARMS embargo on China in its recent meetings with USG officials in Washington, according to the Spanish Foreign Ministry's deputy director for disarmament affairs. EU members are now convinced that any decision to lift the embargo should come after a strategic dialogue with the USG on regional stability in the Pacific and a framework for pre-consultations on ARMS exports to China. This dialogue could push an EU decision to lift the embargo well into 2006, according to Spanish diplomatic sources. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Poloff discussed March 22 GOS views of the March 14 EU delegation meeting at the State Department on the China Arms Embargo (reftel) with the Spanish MFA's deputy director for International Disarmament Affairs Marcos Rodriguez. Rodriguez, lead Spanish representative in the EU delegation, said the delegation's mission was "not conducted well," and members failed to make a persuasive case for lifting the EU embargo in their meetings with USG officials. He said EU members took note of USG concerns on what effect lifting the arms embargo would have on regional stability and human rights in China. As a result, the EU is considering two new approaches to the embargo issue. ¶3. (C) Rodriguez said EU members have decided to delay lifting the embargo until US and EU officials carry out a strategic dialogue on China that addresses concerns on non-proliferation and regional balance of power issues. Most EU members agree that lifting the embargo could upset the military balance in the Pacific and send the wrong message to China on human rights, Rodriguez said. Spain was not eager to see the EU embargo lifted, but the GOS supported EU members, particularly France, Germany and the UK, who previously wanted to see the embargo removed during Luxembourg's EU presidency. Following the March 14 meeting, Luxembourg now believes that lifting the ARMS embargo should not occur "on its watch," Rodriguez said. The EU's second approach is to consider, within the framework of the strategic dialogue, how to develop a mechanism similar to the Cold War era COCOM (Committee on Export Controls) that would engage allies in consultations prior to transfers of dual-use military goods to China. Rodriguez explained that this new mechanism could strengthen the EU's package of Code of Conduct and Toolkit in helping to prevent ARMS transfers to China. MANZANARES