US may lift 21-year-old arms embargo against China

NEW DELHI: The United States is likely to to lift its 21-year-old arms embargo against China in the wake of President Barack Obama's request on Saturday to ease restrictions on the sale of cargo aircraft to Beijing.

According to the China Daily, President Obama has announced his desire to see C-130 cargo aircraft sold to China, a possible sign Washington may soon lift its arms embargo on Beijing.

In an October 8 letter, Obama called on the House and Senate to lift the ban on C-130 cargo aircraft sales to China, emphasizing "the national interest of the United States" to terminate the suspensions.

Should the proposal pass in both Houses of Congress, this will signal the first time since 1989 that the US has exported arms to China.

Obama stressed in his letter that C-130 cargo aircraft are to be deployed in response to oil spills at sea. However, he did not specify a date or financial cost for an imminent export.

License requirements shall remain in place for these exports, and will require review and approval on an ongoing, case-by-case basis by US government officials.

The C-130 cargo aircraft - also known as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules - is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built in the 1950s.