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Alliance relations.
Moreover, Japanese participation
in COCOM is important, and it would not be possible to
obtain Japanese agreement to the exclusion of China from
COCOM rules. The attitudes of the US and Japan are
therefore important in the consideration of possible
arms sales.
but will-
United States
48. The American attitude would be crucial. The UK
has far more at stake in the US in political,defence,
economic and commercial terms than any possible gain in
China. Even in the limited field of defence sales, the
US market is far more important than the Chinese.
49. The US Administration's assessment of the strategic
considerations surrounding arms sales is likely to be
broadly similar to that set out in this paper. American
public and congressional opinion is however, for historical
and emotional reasons,
likely to continue to restrict the Administration's
especially over Taiwan. freedom of action/ On the other hand,
On the other hand, the strength of
ce]
US public opinion has eased in recent years, and the China lobby has lost some of its influence. Even though on present evidence the Americans themselves will not, during the lifetime of the present Administration, sell arms to China, they may not oppose all sales from other
Western countries. In the previous Administration,
Dr Kissinger set a precedent by helping the British
/Government
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