Brussels
Bowing to U.S. pressure, the E.U. has decided not to lift its arms embargo against China, Hamburg, Germany’s Der Spiegel reported this week. Western nations quit selling weapons to China after the 1989 massacre of democratic activists in Tiananmen Square. In recent months, though, France and Germany said they planned to resume the sales to reward China for progress on human rights. But the E.U. changed its mind after strong pressure from the U.S. and China’s recent statement that it would invade Taiwan should the island republic declare its independence. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said earlier this week that Europe should “do nothing” to alter the balance of power in Asia. “It is the United States, not Europe, that has defended the Pacific,” she said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Controversial GOP plan to sell millions of federal acres hits major roadblockIN THE SPOTLIGHT Republican Sen. Mike Lee says he'll revisit legislation to sell millions of acres of federally held land to create 'freedom zones' of single family homes
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
5 high-concept animated science fiction shows for grown-upsThe Week Recommends How filmmakers are using a different medium to bring visionary science fiction to life
