The Chinese Government has rejected US criticisms over Taiwan as crude interference in its internal affairs, a day after US senators said they might scupper China's attempt to join the World Trade Organisation.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao said China strongly opposed such comments, saying Taiwan was purely an internal matter for the Beijing government.

Senior figures in the US Senate have been critical of China's statement that it may use military force against Taiwan if the island delays talks on reunification with the mainland.

Deal in jeopardy

Their concerns are now threatening an important trade agreement between China and the US.

On Wednesday, Senate finance committee chairman Senator William Roth, a Republican in favour of the trade pact, said it was now in jeopardy.

During a hearing of the committee Mr Roth said "that WTO accession and the passage of permanent Normal Trade Relations (NTR) in the Senate is not a foregone conclusion, as some may think".

He added that "the reckless threat to use force against Taiwan over negotiations on the future cross-strait relations and the recurring human rights violations will necessarily affect the Senate's consideration of this agreement".

But Mr Zhu called on US lawmakers debating whether or not to give China permanent NTR not to confuse the issue with Taiwan.

"We think these are two separate things," Mr Zhu said, calling on US Congressmen to support China's entry into the WTO.

Al Gore adds to uncertainty

Observers say the trade agreement has been further undermined by remarks by US Vice President Al Gore during his presidential election campaign indicating that he might want to renegotiate the pact to include labour rights.

US State Department spokesman James Rubin expressed concern at the White Paper on Taiwan, issued in Beijing earlier this week, which warned the island to open talks on reunification or face a possible war.

"One simply can't dismiss the fact that there was a new public articulation of a threat to use force,"Mr Rubin said.

China has been trying to join the WTO for 14 years, but must first reach trade agreements with all of the organisation's members.