Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 03, 2003
Israel Freezes Weapon Export to China under US Pressure
The Israeli government has frozen all export contracts of weapon and security equipment to China as demanded by the US, according to Haaretz, Israel-based Hebraic language paper.
The Israeli government has frozen all export contracts of weapon and security equipment to China as demanded by the US, according to Haaretz, Israel-based Hebraic language paper.
This is because, as reported, that the US worries that its hi-tech contained in Israeli equipment would be spread to China, and used by the latter to deal with Taiwan, one of China's island provinces. But some Israeli officials brushed the explanation aside by saying the US is only helping its own companies to beat Israeli ones to grab the huge, alluring Chinese market.
Spokesman of Israeli defense ministry made low-key comments on the possible influence of US request, saying relations between Israel and China would not change.
Earlier a letter of US State Department was revealed by press criticizing Hughes Electronics Corporation and Boeing Satellite Systems for illegally providing China with technology that may be used to produce ballistic missiles.
Under pressure from Washington, Israel canceled an early-warning radar contract two years ago and paid some 300 million US dollars to China in compensation.