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| Europe |
| Silence on human rights...the price Europe must pay for China's billions |
| 2011-10-29 |
| He who pays the piper calls the tune or is it "beggars can't be choosers." As EU officials flew to Beijing to beg for financial help last night, Brussels was accused of allowing China to ‘buy Europe’s silence’ over its appalling human rights record. Campaigners spoke out after the head of Europe’s bailout fund arrived in the Chinese capital to discuss the terms on which the hardline regime might agree to inject billions into the struggling eurozone countries. Campaigners fear EU negotiators will cave in to Chinese demands to tone down criticism of the regime’s human rights record. Experts believe Beijing will also press for the lifting of a long-standing Western arms embargo and demand preferential trade terms. Tim Hancock, campaigns director at Amnesty International, warned there was a real danger that Beijing would exploit Europe’s weakness for its own ends. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #4 China getting their hands on officially approved modern weapons will be really scary. China's short-term goal is to force the US Navy out of what China considers its area of influence. European weapons will help greatly. |
| Posted by: gromky 2011-10-29 12:24 |
| #3 Ha. The right's military welfare state worked as well as the lefts welfare state. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2011-10-29 11:25 |
| #2 Never mind the silence on human rights---like Chinese worry about Europe's barking at present. Chinese access to Europe tech is what worries me. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-10-29 11:21 |
| #1 He who pays the piper calls the tune or is it "beggars can't be choosers." Not really. We spent billions for their defense for generations which didn't stop the criticism or denunciation of American society or activities. It's not really that deep in the 'memory hole' of Euro politicians playing to the domestic crowds marching in the streets for favor by 'playing the game'. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2011-10-29 10:27 |