TNAG-0616-FCO40-764-Policy-of-UK-on-status-of-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 64

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DSR 11C

23. Of other regional powers, India would object to the

significantly sale of defence equipment which increased China's offensive

capability but would otherwise probably not make much of a

fuss. The same goes for the ASEAN countries, Australia

and New Zealand.

24. The Soviet Union would dislike military sales to China

and would probably complain about the sale of complete

weapons systems. But it is highly improbable that such

sales would have any effect on détente or other aspects of

East-West relations, although they might affect British commercial interests (see paragraph 32 below).

&

25. Human rights are a factor in some British arms sales

policy. No arms are sold to Chile or South Africa. In

other cases arms which would be used for internal repressio

are not sold. China rates poorly in human rights terms.

But the Chinese have no need for Western defence equipment

for law-and-order purposes and the kind of purchases they

will generally make have war-fighting rather than law-and-

order applications.

یا سرام

way Hadi? - back]

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SECTION IV: COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

26.

China's imports in 1976 were $12.5 billion, about the

same as Romania's and less than Czechoslovakia's or Poland'

The Japanese share was $3 billion, and that of the members (rebe stakes together ·

of the EEC/$2.3 billion. Of this, the British share was

only $124 million (down £50 million from 1975) against

German exports of $

and France exports of $

The United Kingdom now ranks tenth among China's non-

communist trading partners. China in turn is Britain's ..ti

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/most

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