US embassy cable - 05MADRID1140

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001140 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2015 
TAGS: PREL, ETTC, CO, SP, EUN 
SUBJECT: SPANISH VIEWS ON EU DELEGATION'S MEETINGS ON CHINA 
ARMS EMBARGO 
 
REF: A. STATE 49288 
     B. MADRID 987 
 
Classified By: Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor for 
Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  The EU failed to make a persuasive case for 
lifting the EU arms embargo on China in its recent meetings 
with USG officials in Washington, according to the Spanish 
Foreign Ministry's deputy director for disarmament affairs. 
EU members are now convinced that any decision to lift the 
embargo should come after a strategic dialogue with the USG 
on regional stability in the Pacific and a framework for 
pre-consultations on arms exports to China.  This dialogue 
could push an EU decision to lift the embargo well into 2006, 
according to Spanish diplomatic sources.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) Poloff discussed March 22 GOS views of the March 14 
EU delegation meeting at the State Department on the China 
Arms Embargo (reftel) with the Spanish MFA's deputy director 
for International Disarmament Affairs Marcos Rodriguez. 
Rodriguez, lead Spanish representative in the EU delegation, 
said the delegation's mission was "not conducted well," and 
members failed to make a persuasive case for lifting the EU 
embargo in their meetings with USG officials.  He said EU 
members took note of USG concerns on what effect lifting the 
arms embargo would have on regional stability and human 
rights in China.  As a result, the EU is considering two new 
approaches to the embargo issue. 
 
3.  (C) Rodriguez said EU members have decided to delay 
lifting the embargo until US and EU officials carry out a 
strategic dialogue on China that addresses concerns on 
non-proliferation and regional balance of power issues.  Most 
EU members agree that lifting the embargo could upset the 
military balance in the Pacific and send the wrong message to 
China on human rights, Rodriguez said.  Spain was not eager 
to see the EU embargo lifted, but the GOS supported EU 
members, particularly France, Germany and the UK, who 
previously wanted to see the embargo removed during 
Luxembourg's EU presidency.  Following the March 14 meeting, 
Luxembourg now believes that lifting the arms embargo should 
not occur "on its watch," Rodriguez said.  The EU's second 
approach is to consider, within the framework of the 
strategic dialogue, how to develop a mechanism similar to the 
Cold War era COCOM (Committee on Export Controls) that would 
engage allies in consultations prior to transfers of dual-use 
military goods to China.  Rodriguez explained that this new 
mechanism could strengthen the EU's package of Code of 
Conduct and Toolkit in helping to prevent arms transfers to 
China. 
MANZANARES