China's desire to lift EU arms embargo 'legitimate': Chirac

Visiting French President Jacques Chirac (R) is greeted by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (L) prior to their summit meeting at the foreign ministry's Iikura Guesthouse in Tokyo yesterday. Chirac is in Japan for a three-day official visit. PHOTO: AFP

France has been a prime supporter of ending the ban on selling arms to China, a move opposed by both the United States and its ally Japan.

"The prime minister told me of his concerns. He asked me for explanations," Chirac told a joint news conference after talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

"I indicated to him that the decision of the European Union does not imply a change in exports of sensitive arms or technology to China as they are subject to rules which cannot be broken," Chirac said.

"Hence the decision does not mean things would change. It's a political decision," he said.

"We believe that this lifting is legitimately sought by China and that's why we have taken this decision."

Koizumi reiterated Japan's opposition to lifting the embargo, imposed after China's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1989.

"We told the president that we are against it," Koizumi said.

"In China, military spending had seen double-digit growth for more than 10 years. As for Japan, the defense spending has been on decline over the past three straight years," Koizumi said.

"Japan does not regard China's economic growth as a threat. Rather we regard it as an opportunity. However, in relation to security concerns such as the Taiwan issue Japan has been asking for a peaceful resolution," Koizumi said.