The United States warned the European Union (EU) against lifting the arms embargo on China, or the US's transfer of advanced national defense technologies to EU members will be affected.

According to US defense official, if EU lifted it arm embargo against China, US will consider whether or not to continue the scientific and technological exchanges with EU, including the F-35 fighters being developed by US and eight EU members now.

EU has been imposing arm embargo on China since 1989. However, some members have proposed for elimination. For example, French President Jacques Chirac pointed out during his visit in China that the embargo is untimely, unreasonable, and a hostile act against China.

As for no consensus in EU right now, analyst believes that the unbanning is only a matter of time due to the inclination of EU leaders to establish strategic partnership with China and to balance US's stretch worldwide.

(People's Daily October 19, 2004)