|
FORMOSAN ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC
AFFAIRS (FAPA)
552 7TH STREET S.E. -
WASHINGTON DC 20003
TEL: (202) 547-3686 - FAX: (202)
543-7891
Contact: Iris Ho at 202-547-3686
For Immediate
Release
October 8, 2004
U.S.
REPRESENTATIVES INTRODUCE LEGISLATION CONDEMNING POSSIBLE LIFTING OF
EU ARMS EMBARGO VS. CHINA
On October 7, 2004,
Reps. Steve Chabot and Sherrod Brown introduced a resolution (HCR
512) concluding that it is the sense of Congress that “the President
should seek a commitment from the leaders of the European Union that
the European Union not lift its embargo on arms sales to the
People's Republic of China.”
Furthermore, it
calls for a Defense Department report in 2005 detailing the impact a
possible lifting of the embargo might have and a review of the steps
the U.S. will take to address this situation.
The European Union
(EU) is contemplating to lift its arms sale embargo to China after
the annual EU/China summit meeting this coming December. The EU
imposed its ban on selling arms to China after the 1989 Tiananmen
Square Massacre.
The resolution
points out that the U.S. shares defense technology with the European
Union in order to enhance the interoperability between the two
military powers and that a lifting of the embargo might result in US
military technology being transferred to China.
Also, it states
that the Taiwan Strait is one of the flashpoints in the world and
that a conflict in the region will involve United States forces.
FAPA President
Ming-chi Wu, Ph.D. states: “We object vehemently against lifting the
embargo. For the following reasons: First, lifting the embargo will
alter the current fragile military balance across the Taiwan Strait
and will rapidly tip the balance in China’s favor. Second, it will
aggravate the already strained relationship between the U.S. and the
EU and impact the immediate U.S. security interests in the region.
And third, since the ban was initiated as a response to the 1989
Tiananmen massacre, reinstalling the sales will send a signal to
China and the rest of the world that the killings at Tiananmen have
been forgotten. Conclusion: The EU must not lift the arms sale
embargo to China!”
FORMOSAN ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS (FAPA)
552 7TH STREET S.E. - WASHINGTON DC 20003
(202) 547-3686 - FAX: (202) 543-7891
【FAPA
新聞稿】
【2004年10月8日】
美眾議員引進決議案，反對歐盟解除對中國武器禁運
有鑑於歐盟即將在十二月初與中國的高峰會議上考慮解除對中國武器禁運的限制，眾議員夏波(Steve Chabot, R-OH)與布朗(Sherrod
Brown, D-OH)特於昨日（7日）提出第512號決議案(HCR512)，反對歐盟如此的舉動。決議案裡並要求布希總統尋求歐盟領袖的承諾，不會解除對中國武器的禁運限制。
決議案指出，這個長達十五年的武器禁運限制，是為了抗議中國八九年六四天安門血腥鎮壓而發起的；許多當初在天安門廣場前的抗議人士，至今仍然被囚禁於獄中，也未接受到公平、公開的審判。
此外，決議案也就美國的國家安全利益將受到威脅一事，有所著墨。決議案裡表示，歐盟對中國的武器禁運的限制一旦解除，美國目前與歐洲一些共同分享的軍事科技，將很難保證不落入中國的手中。因此，決議案最後並要求美國國防部就歐盟一旦解除禁運，對於美國在亞太地區的利益以及應該採取如何因應措施等議題，在其2005年研究中國解放軍軍力的年度報告中做一分析。
FAPA會長吳明基表示：「FAPA堅決反對歐盟解除對中國武器禁運的限制。第一、這樣的限制解除將導致脆弱的台海軍事平衡加速向中國傾斜；第二、將導致目前已經相當緊張的歐美關係更為惡化，並直接影響美國在亞太地區的安全利益；第三、由於武器禁運的限制是因六四天安門事件而起，這樣的限制一旦解除，將給予人錯誤的印象，認為天安門的血腥鎮壓事件已經被遺忘。」
吳明基接著表示：「最重要的是，歐盟一旦解除武器禁運的限制，法國、德國等國將繼蘇俄之後，提供中國各式各樣的先進武器，這對在國際社會孤立無援，僅靠美國授與先進防禦性武器的台灣來說，將造成最直接的威脅與衝擊。同時，台海一旦發生戰事，也將會影響美軍的軍力與佈署。」
吳明基最後表示：「歐盟應該與美國等世界各國，一起施壓中國，改善其人權問題；而不是將商業利益置於台灣二千三百萬人民的安全，與其盟友－美國的安全利益之上。」 |
