They are not joking

It is not only the European Union that is in bad odour with the United States because of selling arms and trying to sell more arms to the Chinese. Israel is, too.

According to ISN Security Watch, Israeli officials have announced that a major arms deal with China had been frozen.

Israel has come under pressure from the US in recent months over the planned sale to China of upgrades for unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles, or drones, that would have included US technology. Washington feared the drones could be used by China against Taiwan.

Six months ago trade sanctions were imposed on Israel because of the deal and Israeli officials have now flown to Washington to discuss matters and allow American defence officials to examine the details of the deal.

The discussions and their consequences are likely to be quite strongly worded.