CHINA: China's leader-in-waiting, Vice-President Hu Jintao, has sent a warning to the US over the vexed issue of Taiwan, saying differences between the two countries over the renegade island could "hurt" US-Sino relations.
The vice-president also vigorously defended his country's human rights record in a meeting with President Bush during his inaugural visit to the US.
Mr Hu said trouble over Taiwan could set back improving US-China ties. But he stressed the overall trend in the relationship was positive and the future bright.
"If any trouble occurs on the Taiwan question, it would be difficult for China-US relations to move forward, and a retrogression may even occur," he added.
Mr Hu warned that selling sophisticated arms to Taiwan, as President Bush and his predecessors have done, or "upgrading relations" with Taipei was "inconsistent" with US commitments to China. The Taiwan issue was raised at nearly all Mr Hu's meetings in Washington.