Israel has renewed its military relations with China and is proposing a wide range of security and military projects in a development that worries members of the U.S. Congress.
"Reports indicate Israeli firms have discussed a range of projects with China, including export of sensor and observation systems, security fences, microwave and optics, training, metal detectors and packages for airport and vital facilities security," a congressionally mandated commission said in its 2004 report to Congress.
The report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said the Israeli-Chinese military talks came amid an Israeli assurance to the United States that Jerusalem would not sell defense equipment that could harm U.S. interests.
The report marked the first U.S. government disclosure of the renewal of Israeli-Chinese ties. In 2001, under heavy U.S. pressure, Israel canceled the sale of the Phalcon airborne early-warning and alert aircraft to China. The deal was potentially worth $1 billion.
Israel has offered training facilities to China's military and security forces, the report said. They included a training facility for urban warfare as well as a project to train China's security forces for the 2008 Olympic games.
The report said Defense Ministry Director-general Amos Yaron held talks in Beijing in March 2004 in an effort to renew Sino-Israeli defense relations.
Israel's Defense Ministry, the report said, granted more than a dozen licenses to Israeli contractors to market defense-related products and services in China.
"The commission understands that Israel has offered training facilities, including one for urban warfare, to train China's security forces for the Olympics," the report said.
Israel has already provided China a range of systems, the report said. The commission, calling Israel the No. 2 supplier for China's military modernization project, cited the transfer of Harpy attack unmanned air vehicles, radar systems, optical and telecommunications equipment, target drones and flight simulators.
The sources said Congress could eventually link the more than $2 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel to a suspension of its defense relations with Beijing.
