Spiegel Online

Germany's chancellor wants to lift the EU arms embargo against China. As a Thursday debate in the German parliament made clear, however, not many others back his position. Also, Germany's high court may be preparing to declare a major EU law unconstitutional.

The issue has been making headlines for weeks: Should the European Union lift its arms embargo slapped onto China following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre as Germany and France would like -- due in large part to the lucrative contracts that could result? Or should the EU bow to US wishes and keep the embargo in place? In Germany, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has come under fire from parties across the political spectrum for his stance on ending the 16-year-old weapons ban -- and much of that fire has come from his own governing coalition partner, the Greens, despite waffling from Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, the de facto leader of the Greens, on the issue. The topic was debated in the German parliament on Thursday, and on Friday, the German press once again takes a look.

The center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung asks if delivering weapons to China will really further the integration of China into the international community or contribute to stability in East Asia. The paper says Chancellor Schroeder seems convinced of that fact, since he's called the embargo both "unnecessary" and even discriminatory. But, the editorial continues, "the anti-discrimination activist is campaigning for an embargo-free world as if the character of the Chinese regime is of no importance, as if the issue of Taiwan didn't exist, or as if China was not the rising power to rival America, and one which could one day unhinge the world."

So the arms embargo is discriminatory? This is why many people in the world live in fear and under suppression of there government. Leaders are willing to overlook disgusting human rights abuse and threats of military action for there own countries financial advancement. And now the high courts are trying to find a way to justify Schroeder's claim of discrimination to Chirac's delight I'm sure.

Thank goodness some in the EU realize the importance of the issues (NY Times).

Europe seemed farther away than ever from lifting its 16-year-old arms embargo on China on Thursday, after statements by the German foreign minister and a vote in the European Parliament, both of which urged linking the embargo question to human rights.