Lifting Export Controls?

Dean Cheng / October 12, 2010

Over the weekend, President Obama notified House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D–CA) that he intended to allow the issuance of temporary munitions export licenses for C-130 cargo aircraft for use in response to oil spills at sea.

On the surface, this measure appears non-controversial. It is not, at least from what is stated, a decision to allow the sale of C-130 aircraft to China. Rather, the Administration can claim, quite reasonably, that the waiver is only to allow C-130 aircraft, of any nationality, to land in China, as necessary, to provide assistance with oil spills. One can hardly argue that simply allowing an aircraft to land and refuel or take on oil dispersal chemicals is a leak of high technology. (more…)