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| Jack Straw |
Britain's Foreign Secretary says China's stand on Taiwan has made it more difficult for the European Union to end its embargo on weapons sales to Beijing.
Jack Straw said in a British television interview Sunday that the political environment had worsened since China passed a law last week granting itself the right to attack Taiwan if it declared independence.
The European Union had been planning to lift the weapons ban this year. But last Thursday, an EU official said the issue may now be delayed. Mr. Straw noted that the EU's main policy-making body was not planning to consider the issue when it meets next Tuesday.
The United States has strongly opposed lifting the ban, saying the move could threaten Taiwan's security.
The embargo goes back to China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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