March, 28 2005	Monday	17 Safar 1426

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TOKYO, March 27: French President Jacques Chirac sought to reassure Japan on Sunday that lifting Europe’s embargo on arms exports to China would not result in an increase in weapons sales, saying the move was aimed at normalising ties. France has led efforts to secure an early end to the European Union embargo, imposed after China’s 1989 crackdown on protests, despite pressure from Washington to keep it in place out of fears that China may secure advanced weaponry.

Japan has also expressed concern, saying that lifting the embargo could destabilise the Asian region. Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Chirac said: “I told him that arms exports to China won’t take place; the same with sensitive technology.”

Mr Chirac said the reason for lifting the ban was political and that it was no longer appropriate. “The conditions are not the same as when it was put in place,” Chirac told a joint news conference with Mr Koizumi.

“It is no longer valid.” Mr Koizumi said Japan remained opposed to lifting the embargo.

“We expressed our concern and our opposition,” Koizumi said, noting that China’s military budget has been increasing by double digits in recent years. —Reuters