The lifting of the European Union's arms embargo on China is inevitable, once a code of conduct governing the sale of any weapons is put in place later this year, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has said.
The issue was raised yesterday during talks in Beijing between Mr Ahern and the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Wen Jiabao.
Their meeting took place on the first full day of the visit to China by a 200-strong Irish trade mission led by Mr Ahern.
Emphasising that Ireland would not be selling any weapons to the Chinese, Mr Ahern indicated that the lifting of the ban would, however, be aided by human rights improvements.
During yesterday's talks, he said, Mr Wen had made it "crystal clear" that the Chinese government did not want extra weapons to heighten tensions with Taiwan, as some in Washington fear.
"We are very much aware that, for China, the lifting of the embargo is a matter of respect and equal treatment and that it does not reflect a desire to accelerate arms imports from Europe," Mr Ahern told the Chinese leader, according to speaking notes released by his spokeswoman.
The weapons issue and China's human rights record have been linked by European Union parliaments and the European media.
"This is an important political reality for the EU governments," Mr Ahern declared.
France has consistently pushed for a lifting of the arms block, though opponents argue that the French wish it to be removed so that their major arms manufacturers can increase sales.
Noting the pressure that has been imposed by the French President, Mr Jacques Chirac, Mr Ahern said some of the French leader's opponents on the issue had arms sales ambitions of their own.
Last week the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, said he thought the European Union's arms embargo on China could well be lifted by July during Luxembourg's presidency of the European Union .
The Bush administration in Washington has argued that the proposed EU code of conduct will not prevent the sale of the most technologically advanced weapons to Beijing.
The US State Department has warned privately that it could consider restricting the sale of sensitive defence technology to European Union countries if Brussels gives way to Beijing's demands.
The Taoiseach pointed out that the Chinese had worked "for so long and so hard" to remove the arms embargo, "not to purchase more arms, but because they see this as an unfair obstacle".
