US embassy cable - 05PARIS630

S E C R E T PARIS 000630 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, ETTC, CH, FR, JA 
SUBJECT: EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO: FRENCH TELL JAPANESE EU 
READY TO LIFT IN MARCH 
 
REF: A. LUXEMBOURG 70 
 
     B. PARIS 547 
     C. STATE 17707 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso 
ns 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S)  Japanese political Officer Korehito Masuda (strictly 
protect) told poloff that during a Jan. 31 Paris meeting 
between GOF MFA Deputy Vice Minister for Foreign Policy 
Tsuneo Nishida and Presidency Diplomatic Advisor Maurice 
 
SIPDIS 
Gourdault-Montagne, Gourdault-Montagne said that the EU 
intends to lift the China arms embargo sometime in March, 
possibly the 22nd or 23rd (dates for the March European 
Summit).  According to Masuda, Gourdault-Montagne evinced 
great surprise when Nishida told him that lifting the embargo 
would damage French-Japanese relations.  Masuda said the 
French seem to believe that the Japanese are less concerned 
than previously about any lifting of the embargo.  He rued 
Prime Minister Koizumi's statement to President Chirac during 
the October EU-ASEM summit in Hanoi, when Chirac asked 
Koizumi about lifting the embargo.  Koizumi had noted that 
the Japanese hoped that the EU would consider the measure 
"with prudence."  Masuda feared that Koizumi's 
less-than-forceful response had given Chirac the impression 
that the Japanese would not protest too vigorously against a 
lifting. 
 
2.  (S)  Masuda also pointed out the difficulties that such a 
date would cause, given plans for President Chirac to visit 
Japan in late March.  He found it inconceivable that the 
French could consider pressing the EU to lift the embargo on 
the eve of a long-planned visit. 
 
3.  (S)  Echoing questions posed in Ref (A), Masuda also 
sought to know whether the US position against the embargo 
remains firm, noting concerns driven by press reporting that 
perhaps the US has accepted the eventuality of a lift and is 
seeking to minimize the damage.  Poloff noted that US 
position remains strongly against any lifting. 
 
4. (S)  Masuda also noted that during discussions between the 
Japanese Ambassador in Paris and the French MFA to discuss 
the embargo, (outgoing) Asia Chief Thierry Dana and 
DAS-equivalent for East Asia Marc Abensour frequently attempt 
to paint the United States as the country most eager to 
exploit the market for arms sales to China. 
 
5.  (S)  A March date fits in with MFA DAS-equivalent for 
export control Jacques Maillard's previous comments to us 
that they expected the EU to lift the embargo within the 
first trimester of 2005 and with MFA DAS-equivalent for CFSP 
LeDeunff's remarks prior to the Jan 31 GAERC (ref B) that 
there would be no movement on the embargo prior to President 
Bush's February visit to Europe. 
Leach