The US president would be required to monitor European arms sales to China, with the option of penalizing those companies that sell materials detrimental to US security, under a bill the House of Representatives took up on Wednesday.
The "East Asia Security Act" is the latest of several congressional actions taken to discourage the EU from proceeding with proposals to lift an embargo on arms sales imposed after China's 1989 crackdown on the Tiananmen Square student movement.
The House was expected to vote on the measure yesterday, with passage a near certainty. Less certain is whether the Senate will consider the bill. US President George W. Bush has voiced his opposition to ending the embargo, saying it could change the balance of power between China and Taiwan, but his administration has not supported the legislative approach.
While aimed at Europe, the measure would require Bush to report annually on all international companies that sell arms to China and on governments whose policies condone such sales.
Companies and governments that repeatedly sell arms to China would have to obtain export licenses and submit to congressional review procedures in order to obtain sensitive US weapons technology in the future. The president could waive such steps on national security grounds.
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