China: U.S. and European Union Arms Sales Since the 1989 Embargoes
Abstract
The EU embargo consists of a 1989 political declaration that EU members will embargo the "trade in arms" with China. Each EU member may interpret and implement the embargo's scope for itself. We found no instances of EU members entering into new agreements to sell China lethal military items after 1989, although some members delivered lethal and nonlethal military items to China during the 1990s-apparently in connection with pre-embargo agreements-and have more recently agreed to deliver additional nonlethal military items. According to experts, the embargo is not legally binding and any EU member could legally resume arms sales to China if it were willing to bear the political consequences of doing so. We noted that at least two EU members are presently reconsidering whether the EU embargo should be continued.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 28, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA346746
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office