NETHERLANDS/CHINA/EU: GONL COMMITTED TO CHINA ARMS

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