Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to the arms embargo on China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18714/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The EU's position regarding the arms embargo on China was most recently set out in Council Conclusions of 11 December 2006, in which the Council reaffirmed its willingness to carry forward work towards lifting the arms embargo on the basis of the European Council Conclusions of December 2004.

The 2004 Conclusions make clear that any decision should not lead to an increase in arms exports, neither in quantitative nor qualitative terms. Equally, Council stressed in this context the importance of work on the revision and strengthening of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, and on the new instrument on measures pertaining to arms exports to post-embargo countries (the "toolbox"). This work has not yet reached an agreed conclusion.

The Government's position was set out by the Taoiseach during his visit to Beijing in January 2005, when he also explained the importance to Ireland and the EU of continued progress in the promotion and protection of human rights in China. We support the lifting of the embargo but we do not wish to see any increase in the quantity or quality of arms exports to China.

The Government continues to examine this issue with our EU partners, in the context of our overall relationship with China, our ongoing commitment to human rights and the broader regional and international context. A decision to lift the embargo will require the unanimous approval of Member States.

As the EU works towards lifting the arms embargo, it has also engaged in a dialogue on the issue at senior official level with key partners, including the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Australia.