March 24 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K. should support plans by the European Union to lift a 15-year-old arms embargo on China only if member states give assurances there will be no increase in weapons exports, a group of lawmakers said.

``There are very real risks involved in the lifting of the EU arms embargo on China, which must be mitigated effectively,'' said Roger Berry, head of the House of Commons Quadripartite Committee, in an e-mailed statement today.

The EU is considering a French-led proposal to lift the embargo, imposed after the violent Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. U.S. President George W. Bush last month lobbied the 25- nation bloc to retain the weapons ban because of ``deep concern'' over an arms race on the Pacific rim.

``Absolute assurances'' should be given by each EU member that there will be ``no qualitative or quantitative'' increase in arms exports to China, said a report today by the Quadripartite committee.

A law passed last week by the Chinese government authorizing military action to counter any declaration of independence by Taiwan ``will heighten'' U.S. opposition to lifting the embargo, Berry said.

Chinese arms purchases last year were triple those of four years earlier, according to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. BAE Systems Plc Chief Executive Mike Turner last month said the U.K. should do nothing to endanger relations with the U.S.

To contact the reporter on this story: Matthew Fletcher in London at mfletcher4@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 23, 2005 19:08 EST