§ Jane GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions apply with respect to arms sales to China other than those general criteria announced on 28 July 1997. [44495]
§ Mr. FatchettThe EU introduced a ban on arms sales to China on 26 June 1989, but the scope of that ban has, in the absence of agreement on a common interpretation, been left for national interpretation. The UK interprets this ban to include
lethal weapons such as machine guns, large calibre weapons, bombs, torpedoes, rockets and missiles; specially designed components of the above, and ammunition;247Wmilitary aircraft and helicopters, vessels of war, armoured fighting vehicles and other such weapons platforms;any equipment which might be used for internal repression.All applications are considered case by case in the light of these criteria as the overall criteria governing defence exports announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29.