Chirac: Lifting Chinese Arms Ban ‘Legitimate’

It’s just Jacques being his usual cheese-dick Jacques self: Oui, we should sell arms to China.

French President Jacques Chirac told a concerned Japan that China’s desire for the European Union to lift its arms embargo was “legitimate” and would not entail exports of sensitive weapons and technology.

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.

“We told the president that we are against it,” 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.

The European Union had initially set a goal of lifting the ban by the end of June, when the presidency of the 25-member bloc shifts from Luxembourg to Britain.

Britain had suggested that the end of the weapons sale ban could be delayed after China on March 14 adopted the Anti-Succession Law. Chinese Foreign Ministry said China opposes to linking the lifting of arms ban with the new law, saying they are irrelevant.

But Chirac has vowed to push ahead and end the embargo by the end of June.

Look, there’s a reason that the U.S. Army only somewhat-jokingly divides its answers in armor vehicle identification to three categories — friend, foe or French. The bastards have historically proved that they’ll sell to anyone. It’s all about the Franc.

Ahh, the French, unable to successfully protect themselves since the days of Napoleon, and quite willing to expect the Americans to save their collective asses for almost a century. Don’t give me that crap about WWI until you read John Mosier’s The Myth of the Great War and can counter the argument that, contrary to prevailing opinion that American intervention only provided the Allies’ tipping point, the Americans actually saved an imcompetent French military from destruction. I won’t discuss the WWII or Indochina French debacles, but will point that the country meekly chose the wrong side of history by hedging its bets by bailing out of the military side of NATO in 1966 (only to boldly return to the fold in 1992 after the Cold War was over).

It’s all about the Franc. Despite the obvious, oh so obvious, intentions of the Chinese.

It’s all about the Franc.

Hey, Jacques, let me be the first to welcome you and your ilk to the wrong side of history once again.