Beijing said yesterday that it strongly opposes US moves to lift decades-old restrictions on contact between American and Taiwan officials, saying it runs counter to the one-China principle.

The US House of Representatives approved the measure on Wednesday but it has not yet been considered by the Senate.

"China has always resolutely opposed any form of official contact between US and Taiwan authorities," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference.

She called the resolution a "serious violation of the fundamental principles of Sino-US relations" and said it ran contrary to the commitment to the one-China policy the United States has affirmed many times.

US restrictions that prevent high-ranking American military officers from travelling to Taiwan have been in force since 1979, when it established diplomatic relations with Beijing.

Also prohibited are meetings between US and Taiwan civilian officials in certain government buildings, including the White House.

The House approved the measure in an amendment to a funding bill for the State Department; and the Senate could debate the issue later this summer.

In another development, China yesterday expressed appreciation to US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick for his "contribution to the promotion of China-US ties."

Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo extolled Zoellick's efforts during a phone conversation with him on Wednesday night, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

Zoellick resigned on June 15 to take up a position with Goldman Sachs.

China Daily - Agencies

(China Daily 06/30/2006 page1)