Not to be paranoid but this could be the first step in a new global alignment (EU+China v US). Double file it under thing we should keep an eye on, and possible long term failures of the Bush administration.
France Seeks End to Arms Ban as China Leader Visits
PARIS (Reuters) - France urged the European Union (news - web sites) to end its arms embargo on China Monday as Chinese President Hu Jintao began a visit to Paris intended to turn warming political relations into better economic cooperation.
Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin made the appeal for an end to the embargo on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels as President Jacques Chirac met Hu in Paris.
"We want to be able -- between now and the next European Council (EU summit on March 25-26) -- to reach a solution which is in line with the nature of the relations that the Union has with such an important partner, China," Villepin said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&e=5&u=/nm/20040126/wl_nm/france_chin
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