U.S. Warns Israel Against Future Arms Sales to China

June 22, 2002
By Aluf Benn

The United States has warned Israel against selling arms to China, saying that such deals could come up against American opposition, especially if the weapons sold are capable of inhibiting U.S. military actions in the region.

The Americans are worried by any possible escalation between China and Taiwan.

Israel and China signed an agreement three months ago settling a dispute over the U.S.-scotched sale of a Phalcon early warning system slated for installation on a Chinese air force Ilyushin plane. The United States opposed the deal, because the system could have endangered American planes in the area by giving the Chinese advanced over-the-horizon radar-detection capabilities.

China's Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang visited Jerusalem Wednesday, meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior. Yang said his visit opened new opportunities for cooperation in agriculture and high-tech, but the real purpose of his trip was to lay the groundwork for the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.

Sources in Jerusalem say the financial compensation for the Phalcon imbroglio appears to have cleared the air with Beijing. However, there remains concern that Chinese President Jiang Zemin feels he was personally insulted, since during a visit to Israel in April 2000, he was led to believe the deal would go through. The sources said Israel will have to find some way to appease Jiang.

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