Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE2550
2006-12-05 13:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/CHINA/EU: GONL COMMITTED TO CHINA ARMS
how-toVZCZCXRO6574 PP RUEHAG RUEHKW RUEHROV DE RUEHTC #2550 3391317 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051317Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7594 INFO RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1957 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1720 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4950 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 5096 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1346 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1691 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 2861 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0155
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002550
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016
TAGS: PARM EUN PHUM PREL MARR CH JA TW NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/CHINA/EU: GONL COMMITTED TO CHINA ARMS
EMBARGO
REF: STATE 194456
Classified By: Politicial Counselor Andrew Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b, d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002550
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016
TAGS: PARM EUN PHUM PREL MARR CH JA TW NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/CHINA/EU: GONL COMMITTED TO CHINA ARMS
EMBARGO
REF: STATE 194456
Classified By: Politicial Counselor Andrew Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche December 5 to MFA
Deputy European Correspondent Jeroen Boender, who said he
foresaw no change in the EU's position on the China arms
embargo. The French call for a discussion of the embargo
was, he said, a "Pavlovian reaction to the Finnish
Presidency's" placing the Code of Conduct on the December
GAERC agenda. "It's just 2005, all over again," said
Boender, adding that the GONL believed the French had little
support and little chance of success.
2. (C) The GONL, according to Boender, will continue to
insist that four criteria be met before a discussion of the
embargo is allowed. First, China must improve its human
rights record; second, China must address concerns on
regional stability and security, including an arms buildup
directed at least in part at Taiwan; third, the concerns of
key allies - Japan and the U.S. - must be reasonably
assuaged; and fourth, the EU must strengthen its code of
conduct. None of these criteria have been met to Dutch
satisfaction, he said.
3. (C) Boender added that the Dutch still hope to see the
Code of Conduct adopted as a common EU position, allowing it
to become legally binding on member states. The French
tactic has, for now, again prevented any progress on this.
ARNALL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016
TAGS: PARM EUN PHUM PREL MARR CH JA TW NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/CHINA/EU: GONL COMMITTED TO CHINA ARMS
EMBARGO
REF: STATE 194456
Classified By: Politicial Counselor Andrew Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche December 5 to MFA
Deputy European Correspondent Jeroen Boender, who said he
foresaw no change in the EU's position on the China arms
embargo. The French call for a discussion of the embargo
was, he said, a "Pavlovian reaction to the Finnish
Presidency's" placing the Code of Conduct on the December
GAERC agenda. "It's just 2005, all over again," said
Boender, adding that the GONL believed the French had little
support and little chance of success.
2. (C) The GONL, according to Boender, will continue to
insist that four criteria be met before a discussion of the
embargo is allowed. First, China must improve its human
rights record; second, China must address concerns on
regional stability and security, including an arms buildup
directed at least in part at Taiwan; third, the concerns of
key allies - Japan and the U.S. - must be reasonably
assuaged; and fourth, the EU must strengthen its code of
conduct. None of these criteria have been met to Dutch
satisfaction, he said.
3. (C) Boender added that the Dutch still hope to see the
Code of Conduct adopted as a common EU position, allowing it
to become legally binding on member states. The French
tactic has, for now, again prevented any progress on this.
ARNALL