India, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia should be freaking out right about now...
Posted on 10/08/2004 1:59:37 PM PDT by Cornpone
French President Jacques Chirac says he regards the European arms embargo on China as outdated and wants it lifted as soon as possible.
Chirac (right) sees rich opportunities in China's boom His remarks came ahead of his visit to China on Friday, and again France finds itself at odds with the US.
Washington is urging the EU not to lift an embargo that was imposed after the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square.
Mr Chirac's trip to China is aimed at boosting flourishing trade relations.
When Chinese President Hu Jintao visited France earlier this year, Paris not only laid out the red carpet but turned the Eiffel Tower red in his honour and named 2004 the Year of China.
Now that Gallic charm offensive appears to be paying off as Mr Chirac makes his return visit to Beijing.
China is a political and economic priority for France, an area in which it is competing fiercely and successfully with the US for business and influence.
French arms
America may have been faster to woo China, but France is doing its best to catch up. Mr Chirac is bringing with him four ministers and more than 50 leading French businessmen to discuss deals with China.
The French aerobatic display team is in China with Mr Chirac Among the biggest is an $8bn (£4.47bn or 6.48bn euros) contract to construct four nuclear reactors there, with a Franco-German group pitted against an Anglo-American bid.
Another major project is the planned high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai, for which France believes its TGV trains would be ideal.
As Mr Chirac has made clear, he also believes French defence companies could do well in China - if only Europe would lift its arms embargo.
However, the sensitive issue of human rights in China is unlikely to figure high on the agenda during the French president's visit.
In the short term, France is unlikely to catch up with the level of German investment in the lucrative Chinese market, but its efforts are helping to ensure that if present trends continue, Europe as a whole could soon be China's largest trading partner.
Time for a pre-emptive strike on France. It wouldn't take long, would have widespread support, and would ensure us of a steady supply of excellent cheese from occupied Normandy.
18% of the French voted Le Pen in the run-off of last election.
So the real question on everyone's mind is, what was in the other 82% percent's drinking water?
The EU arming the Chinese. Why not? They armed the Iraqis.
WHY DO WE STILL TOLERATE THESE PEOPLE ?!?!
Incredible.
Surrender monkeys at it again
India, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia should be freaking out right about now...
Follow France's friends, and you will be following America's enemies.
Do the froggies have any idea what China is DOING with its weapons?
I'm thinking a simple siege of Paris and replacing of Chirac with d'Ormale might do the job.
Chirac is hurtin' now that he's not getting Iraqi kickback, eh? Needs another source of cash.
I'd love to see Rumsfeld raising the stars and stripes over the Elysee Palance, while US Marines set up headquarters at the George V Hotel and enjoy some fine cognac under the watchful eye of military governor Norman Schwarzkopf..
Palance=Palace. Geez, no offense to Jack Palance.
I wonder, what color is Chirac's prayer rug? Probably white so he can double it as a surrender flag.
The global realignment has only just begun...
Cheese chop suey shooters
He now wants his ass covered in case he get caught at that as well.
I think putting France on the terrorist sympathizer list might help.
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