The rodent [issue] came up in the 90’s - actually the way I heard it - the rodent went up but wouldn’t come out.

With or without the EU ban, it is the individual countries who will decide on arms sales to China. France already sells several hundred million dollars of mostly parts for old aircraft in a year. And, yes, there are even dodgier and more venal members of the EU than Chirac’s France. There may be little the US can do, but if I were Japan, Taiwan or another attractive markets in that region with reason to worry about China’s ambitions, I’d contemplate measures to make China’s arms suppliers pay for their venality. I’d guess that Japan is a more attractive market for French luxury goods than China will be for “never fired” French arms.

The ban is expected to be lifted next year. However, it’s supposedly unlikely the British will ever agree to lift the ban, despite all the public mumbo jumbo indicating otherwise. The British arms industry depends heavily on American contracts and they’ve also acquired a number of American companies in the defense sector, which are projected to rake in major mullah. Also, the British military doctrine is becoming even more reliant on America.

The problems are France and Germany whose dealings with the Pentagon are much smaller compared to the British. The French are also desiring a multipolar world that could balance against America. They’re expecting China to complement the EU on such efforts.

In the end, it’s basically Europe trying to compensate for their lacking influence in East Asia. The US has close ties to two East Asian powers, Japan and South Korea. The EU doesn’t have the ability to replace the US in either relationship, simply because those countries require security umbrellas and Europeans don’t possess sufficient military prowess to do so.

China is the only appealing and most realistic option the Europeans have in a region that’s expected to grow in influence and richesse over the following decades. The French claim, from thinktanks and gov’t officials alike, is that China should be treated like a “normal” country and shepherded to join the “world community” in a peaceful manner. Translated into English, beggars can’t be chosers and the EU’s trying to make the best of a crapped out situation.

The thing is, Europeans should be more focused on solidifying the EU before going on such risky overseas adventures. After all, the EU even has problems drawing boundaries (Turkey in the EU?), not to mention agreeing on a constitution.