Senior Chinese and EU officials held talks as the EU considers lifting a 15-year arms embargo banning European companies from seeking contracts with the Chinese military.
EU officials said Zhang Yesui, China's vice-foreign minister in charge of relations with western Europe, raised the embargo with EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten at the start of two days of talks in Brussels.
One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Zhang told the EU that the embargo was "inappropriate" to China's current relations with the 15-nation bloc.
Pushed by France and Germany, EU leaders are widely expected to lift the arms embargo at a March 25-26 summit in Brussels, although some EU member nations have expressed concerns over human rights in China and its policy toward Taiwan.
Patten told Zhang more assurances from Beijing on human rights would make it easier for EU governments to explain any decision to lift the embargo, the EU official said.
The arms ban was introduced after China's clampdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989. Several European governments now want it lifted as a sign of improving relations and to let their companies compete for a slice of China's military budget.
China does not publicize its spending on weapons, research and development and other costs. The US Defense Department puts actual outlays at up to four times public figures. Last year's announced military budget was US$22.4 billion.
Beijing on Saturday announced a 11.6 percent -- or $2.6 billion -- rise in military spending for this year.
Patten has a record of outspoken criticism of China's human rights, but has recently recognized progress there.
EU officials also said the bloc had assured Zhang of its continuing support for the "one China" principle regarding Taiwan and its opposition to formal moves toward independence by the island.
They said China had asked for assurances that the EU's policy will not be changed by a referendum scheduled for March 20 in Taiwan on whether it should beef up its defenses if China refuses to redeploy missiles.
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