French defense minister reassures Pentagon on China arms sales

from the China Post:

French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie assured the United States on Thursday that France will continue strict controls over arms exports when the European Union lifts its ban on sales of weapons to China.

The EU plan has raised concerns in Washington and Europe over transatlantic ties, with the Bush administration warning that purchases of advanced Western weaponry by China could tip the military balance between Beijing and Taiwan.

A transcript of Rumsfeld and Alliot-Marie’s press conference is here.