UK interpretation of arms embargo against China

UK interpretation of arms embargo against China

In response to a Parliamentary Question asked in 1995, the UK government gave a clarification of its interpretation of the arms embargo against China:

"Since 7 June 1995 the United Kingdom has enforced an embargo on the sale to China of 'weapons, and equipment which could be used for internal repression'. The EU introduced a ban on arms sales to China on 26 June 1989 but the scope of that ban has, in the absence of agreement on a common interpretation, been left for national interpretation. In the interests of clarity we have decided that hence forward the embargo will include:

-- lethal weapons such as machine guns, large calibre weapons, bombs, torpedoes, rockets and missiles;

-- specially designed components of the above, and ammunition;

-- military aircraft and helicopters, vessels of war, armoured fighting vehicles and other such weapons platforms;

-- any equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.

All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis in the light of these criteria as well as our usual criteria governing all defence exports."

Any reproduction of text and data is authorized only by permission, SIPRI March 2004.