Arms Embargo On China

EDM number 630 in 2004-05, proposed by Sue Doughty on 01/02/2005.

That this House expresses its grave concern at the proposal, endorsed by the British Government, to remove the EU arms embargo on the People's Republic of China; notes that the embargo was originally imposed due to the 1989 massacre at Tiananmen Square; further notes that the Chinese Government continues to hold 14 people prisoner as a result of their involvement in the protests at Tiananmen Square and that the use of the death penalty, extrajudicial executions and torture all remain commonplace, especially in Tibet and Xinjiang; expresses its concern about the possible impact on the position of Taiwan in the event of the lifting of the embargo; welcomes the Government's undertaking to seek a stronger EU Code of Conduct on arms sales; expresses its hope that the code will become legally binding on all EU member states, with clear mechanisms for enforcement; but requests that the Government reconsider its support for lifting the embargo on China.

This motion has been signed by a total of 53 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.