The government's decision to lift the arms embargo on China is unjustified on human rights and
security grounds, Jack Straw was told yesterday.

The foreign secretary has made clear that he backs a plan by the EU to drop the embargo despite
opposition from the US. But yesterday Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs


spokesman, wrote to Mr Straw saying the embargo should stay "until there is convincing evidence of
substantive progress on human rights and regional security concerns".

He said the Foreign Office's own website stated that "the human rights situation in China
continues to be a matter of serious concern".

Sir Menzies pointed to the FO's latest human rights report saying the government's concerns
included "the extensive use of the death penalty ... torture, the continuing harassment of
political dissidents,

religious practitioners ... the situation in Tibet and Xinjiang, and severe restrictions on basic
freedoms of speech".

He also told Mr Straw there was a continuing possibility of a Chinese military confrontation with
Taiwan.

Given these concerns, Sir Menzies asked Mr Straw on what basis the government backed a proposal
that could lead to China, in the near future, getting advanced military technology such as

communications and radar equipment.

He also stressed that the EU code of conduct on arms sales should be strengthened, notably by
making it legally binding. Components for electronic warfare equipment, combat aircraft and
unmanned air

vehicles, are among the military equipment Britain cleared for export to China over the past few
years, say official reports. Other EU countries, notably France, have approved many more licences
for arms

exports to China than Britain.

The government's export guidelines say that a country's human rights exports, and the prospect of
regional conflict, should be taken into account when approving arms exports.

The thinktank Saferworld, pointed in a report last month to predictions that China's military
build-up would mean that between 2006-2008 it would be in a position to retake Taiwan by force.

The Foreign Office said yesterday the EU's code of conduct was tight enough to ensure any arms
sales to China met the British guidelines.