China indirectly endorsed the US-British attacks on Afghanistan yesterday.
In a cautiously worded comment, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said China condemned any form of terrorism, but called for targeted strikes to avoid civilian casualties.
"China opposes terrorism of any form, hoping that relevant military strikes on terrorism should be targeted at specific objectives, so as to avoid hurting innocent civilians," the spokesman was quoted as saying. "China hopes that peace be resumed as soon as possible."
He said China supported "relevant resolutions" passed by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
China has already given firm backing to the war on terrorism, but only oblique support for military retaliation. It has said repeatedly that it should involve the Security Council and not harm civilians.
Part of China's support is based on fears of Islamic militancy in its north-western region of Xinjiang, which borders Afghanistan and where nationalists from the Uighur ethnic group seek a separate state, sometimes violently.
Public reaction to the attacks on Afghanistan was generally muted in Beijing, where the news was largely eclipsed by the Chinese soccer team's qualification on Sunday night for its first World Cup finals.
Most Chinese newspapers carried front-page stories about China's soccer victory over Oman. There were only brief reports on the strikes on Afghanistan with no reaction or comment.
Security around the US embassy and ambassador's residence in Beijing was tight, with paramilitary police shutting off all roads past the main building.
But in a sign of increasing concern about the security of US citizens, the two main international schools in Beijing, which teach many children of US expatriates, cancelled classes.
Meanwhile, Taiwan shrugged off worries that China would take advantage of US preoccupation with military action in Afghanistan and attack the island.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said it had heightened its level of alertness and would continue to keep a close eye on China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province.
The island's Foreign Minister, Mr Tien Hung-mao, said the US had repeatedly pledged it would not sacrifice Taiwan's security during its war against those who attacked the US. The United States is Taiwan's main arms supplier and trading partner, and last April President Bush offered to sell the island submarines and destroyers in the biggest US arms package for the island in a decade.