It’s a Two-Way Street, Israel

Israel has had a lucrative arms trade with China since the 1980s, focused mainly on upgrading Beijing’s fighter planes and armored forces. Now it has begun providing more advanced, strategically significant equipment, and the United States is rightly concerned. This week China’s President Jiang Zemin begins a six-day visit to Israel, a high point being delivery of the first of what could be a series of sophisticated early-warning aircraft, similar to the American AWACS. Defense Secretary William S. Cohen made clear in Israel last week that Washington opposes sales of this kind “because of the potential of changing the strategic balance in that region.” He was referring specifically to the Taiwan Strait, and the possibility--even the likelihood--that any Chinese military moves toward Taiwan would quickly involve U.S. forces.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said in response only that he would take U.S. concerns into consideration. Given the magnitude of the pending technology transfer, Barak’s position is not good enough. It’s already too late to halt delivery of the first unit, a Russian-built Ilyushin-76 transport equipped with an advanced Israeli-built early warning radar system. The deal includes an option for at least three more of the advanced systems. That could seriously affect stability in the Western Pacific and pose a threat to U.S. air and naval forces in the area.

The Pentagon, according to Israeli officials, expressed no great alarm four years ago when Israel gave notice of its proposed deal. What isn’t clear is whether the full scope of the planned technology transfers was understood then. In any case, changing circumstances, including China’s more belligerent stance toward Taiwan, have properly altered American thinking. The China deal is plainly in Israel’s interests. But Israel’s strategic relationship with the United States, which it values highly, must also weigh heavily in its decisions.

The AWACS sale to China is inimical to U.S. interests. It threatens Taiwan, whose security Congress insists must be adequately maintained. It also threatens the effectiveness of U.S. forces that might be ordered to go to Taiwan’s assistance. Israel is currently seeking a staggering $17 billion in U.S. military aid if it reaches an agreement with Syria to withdraw from the Golan Heights. Congress and the Clinton administration must be emphatic: The U.S.-Israel strategic partnership is not a one-way street.