EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO AND CHINESE FM VISIT:

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000846 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, PM, EUR/ERA AND EUR/AGS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREL CM AU EUN SUBJECT: EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO AND CHINESE FM VISIT: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 44309 Classified By: ECONOMIC-POLITICAL COUNSELOR GREGORY E. PHILLIPS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (SBU) EconPolCouns and Pol Unit Chief delivered reftel demarche on March 14 to Thomas Hajnoczi, Austrian MFA A/S-equivalent for Political-Military Affairs and EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. ¶2. (C) Hajnoczi, who had returned earlier that day from a trip to Washington, recounted that his meetings on Capitol Hill had revealed the intensity of sentiment in the U.S. Congress against lifting the embargo. Hajnoczi reiterated the standard EU point that the embargo was merely a non-binding political statement and did not include restrictions on transfers of sensitive technology. He said this indicated a need for "education" on the EU's policies. He said he hoped the visit of Annalisa Gianella would help in this regard. ¶3. (C) Hajnoczi concurred with the need to consult on possible EU follow-on measures, such as the Code of Conduct and "toolbox." He also observed that the Chinese Parliament's passage of anti-separatist legislation aimed at Taiwan had increased tensions. Hajnoczi offered his opinion that this would likely result in a delay of EU action to lift the embargo. Brown