China on Monday lodged solemn representations to the United States on reported Taiwan leader's transit stop there.

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China's statement came in response to reports about the US decision to allow Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian to stop off in the United States on his way to Nicaragua next week.

"The Chinese side opposes the United States and the Taiwan authorities having any form of official dealings," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement on the ministry's Web site (www.fmprc.gov.cn), stressing that China's stance is "clear and consistent."

"We express serious concern about related reports," Liu said, refering to Chen's layover in California on the way to attend the swearing in of Nicaraguan President-elect Daniel Ortega.

"We have made serious representations to the US side."

Chen will stay overnight in San Francisco on Monday before leaving for Nicaragua, one of the island's few diplomatic allies.

"What should be pointed out is that the real aim of Chen Shui-bian's 'transit stop' in the United States is to carry out activities whose purpose is to split China and damage Sino-US relations," Liu added.

"The US government should not allow Chen Shui-bian to conduct any activity in the United States in any name or for any excuse," Liu said.

Liu urged the US side to abide by the one-China principle, the three China-US communiques and to honour its committment to opposing "Taiwan independence," and to take practical actions to safeguard the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the overall China-US relations," Liu said.

He also warned that "Taiwan independence" is against the will of the people and would be doomed to failure.