Ishiba concerned over French support for lifting China arms embargo

Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba voiced concern Tuesday over French President Nicolas Sarkozy's support for a proposal to lift a European arms export embargo against China, stressing it may lead to collapsing a regional military balance. "Neither Japan nor the United States wishes for a situation in which the military balance in the region could rapidly collapse," Ishiba told a press conference.
"I hope relevant countries will be mindful of the military balance when exporting" weapons to China, Ishiba said. Sarkozy expressed his support for lifting a European Union ban on arms exports to China during talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday in Beijing, according to a Chinese government spokesman.