French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said on April 6 that arms embargo on China has been "inappropriate" and the United States cannot reach its goal by asking the European Union to continuously implement the arms ban.

Interviewed by both the Newspaper Association of America and British Press Association Barnier said, "I believe China cannot be treated like Zimbabwe. Arms embargo is a mistake of an era". He said lifting arms embargo on China is out of political consideration. "We will have dialogues with China".

The European Union countries including France and Germany have been supporting the European Union's lifting of arms embargo against China, which has met with US opposition and threat.

US Under-Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick said on April 5 in Brussels that the United States Congress would take reprisal actions if the European Union lifts its arms sales embargo against China, and will immediately cancel the cooperation in the area of national defense purchases.

Targeting at the above-mentioned statement by Zoellick, Barnier said, "Under this new environment... to tell the truth, I think it of no use to warn and threaten.

French President Jacques Chirac reaffirmed that the arms embargo against China is outdated, so that it should be revoked at an early date, and France would continue to work to this end during Chirac's phone conversation with Chinese President Hu Jintao on April 1.

By People's Daily Online