The EU's arms embargo against China must stay!

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) sent an appeal to the European Union's Minister of Foreign Affairs, not to give in to pressure from China's towards a suspension of the EU arms embargo against the People's Republic. "A waiver of these sanctions would be unjust as long as the the human rights situation in China doesn't improve significally," said the STP's expert on questions regarding Asia, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Thursday. "In view of China's recent saber-rattling in the conflicts with the neighboring countries over the control of disputed sea areas, it would be irresponsible to help reinforce the Chinese Navy."

At today's EU-China Summit in Brussels, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had demanded a suspension of the EU arms embargo. China's top-ranking politician confirmed that his country is interested in purchasing European weapons. China had repeatedly signaled interest in purchasing advanced french defense systems for its navy. 

After more than 50 self-immolations of Tibetans protesting against China's Tibet policy – and in view of the arbitrary convictions of human rights activists in the last few months – the STP would states that an end to the sanctions would be a wrong sign. Furthermore, the persecution of Uyghurs and supporters of the Falun Gong meditation movement still continues. "If the embargo was suspended, the authorities in Beijing could see this as an encouragement to continue the arbitrary violations of Chinese laws and international human rights conventions," said Delius.

The arms embargo was imposed in 1989 after the Tiananmen Square Massacre, during which hundreds of supporters of the democracy movement were killed. "Suspending these sanctions would mean to reward the Chinese government for still refusing to bring the responsible leaders to justice and to rehabilitate the victims of the bloodbath," said Delius. Even the families of innocent victims are being intimidated until today, although their only crime was to try to publicly and freely commemorate their murdered relatives.