Israeli Arms Sales To China

[Coastie for Truth]

(Extract from )

In another development Friday, Israel said its dispute with the U.S. over its military technology sales to China will be worked out soon, a day after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, due in Israel this weekend, acknowledged a sharp disagreement with Israel over the issue.

"We are attentive to American concerns. The issue will be solved over the next few weeks and we will work out all the points of dispute," said Raanan Gissin, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Rice told a news conference on Thursday that Israel "has a responsibility to be sensitive" to U.S. concerns, adding that American officials have had "difficult" discussions on the China sales with the Israelis.

"I think they understand now the seriousness of the matter," Rice said.

Rice said Washington is increasingly concerned about military modernization in China<1>. The U.S. fears this could upset the security balance in Asia and that it would make it more difficult for the United States to help defend Taiwan from a mainland attack.

According to Israeli officials and recent media reports, the United States has imposed a series of sanctions on the Israeli arms industry in recent months because of it sales to China.<2>

Washington has halted cooperation on several projects, frozen delivery of sensitive equipment, and is even refusing to answer telephone calls from Israeli defense officials, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported this past weekend. <3>

The Washington Post reports that the dispute stems from the Israeli sale of unmanned drone aircraft technology to China. State-owned Israel Aircraft Industries sold Harpy drones to China in the early 1990s. Harpy parts were shipped to Israel last year for what American defense officials said was an upgrade.

The Washington Post further reports that Israel has denied the American contention, saying the Harpy units were undergoing routine maintenance. Israeli military officials have said work on the Harpy deal has been frozen.<4>

Footnotes:
<1>"Rice said Washington is increasingly concerned about military modernization in China" - How many engineers and scientists does China graduate each year? How many do we graduate? What is the job market like for engineers and scientists in China? Jere? Duh!

<2>See

<3>Link in footnote 2

<4>Compare and contrast with the story in the link in the thread referenced in footnotes 1 and 2, and the rewrite of the Haaretz story.

[madrchsod]

1. in 20 to 30 years from now

the "sons of the Israeli missile" will be honing in on the us navy in the eastern waters off japan and china. the first attack will be at cam ron bay...