Amidst its rising economic and political clout in Europe, according to just released trade data for 2006, China has for the first time replaced the US as the largest exporter to the EU, and Beijing is pressing Brussels to lift the arms embargo in place since Tiananmen crackdown in 1989.

During her recent visit to Beijing, French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie declared: “The EU arms embargo on China can no longer be justified and should be lifted.”

While French temptations are well known, the EU must still reckon with opposition from the US, which argues European arms to China will upset the Asian military balance.

If New Delhi has any views on European arms sales to China, it has kept them to itself. Until now India has indirectly benefited from the Western arms embargo. Under US pressure, Israel too had to downsize its military cooperation with Beijing.

Russia, which supplies arms to China, has given slightly more sophisticated weapons to India. But this happy situation is unlikely to last long. The attractions of the Chinese arms bazaar are too tempting.

When the floodgates open sooner than later, New Delhi will be scrambling to sustain the military equilibrium with Beijing.

Iran sanctions

The difference between the foreign policy of a ruling communist party and the non-ruling ones is pretty simple: the former is responsible for what it considers state interests. Communists in opposition have the luxury of taking rhetorical positions.

Defending Iran has become a new political cause for the Indian Left, as it applies pressure on the UPA government to follow an “anti-imperialist” foreign policy; but Communist China has had no problem supporting a new round of international sanctions against Tehran.

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