Atlantic ties, with the U.S. voicing concern after China adopted a law recently authorizing military action against Taiwan if the island declared independence. That, plus China's shaky human rights record, has led Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden to oppose ending the ban. Germany and France want the ban to go to clear the way for them to sell sophisticated weapons to Beijing, which has been at pains in recent years to upgrade its armed forces. Officials stressed the debate was not dead, but may be put off until 2006, as Britain will hold the EU presidency in the second half of 2005 and is not expected to push very hard for an EU decision to undo the ban.
