China is strongly unsatisfied with and firmly opposes the act adopted by the US House of Representatives on China's Anti-Secession Law, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Thursday.

Liu said the act "groundlessly" comments on and "unreasonably" condemns the law passed by China's National People's Congress (NPC) this Monday. The Anti-Secession Law aims to prevent Taiwan from becoming independent.

"It violates principles of three Sino-US joint communiques and basic rules of international affairs," said the spokesman, describing the act as "barbarian interference" in China's internal affairs.

"China is strongly unsatisfied with and firmly opposes the act. We have lodged solemn representations to the US side," said Liu.

The Anti-Secession Law "fully expresses the Chinese people's position and allegation to peacefully reunify the country by utmost sincerity and efforts." The law also shows the "firm will that any Taiwan separatists can never separate Taiwan from China by any excuse or means." This is a law of peaceful reunification, not a "war bill" or a "war mobilization order," he said.

The NPC ratified the law by "high popular support". The law has won "common understanding and support" from international community and will help oppose and contain "Taiwan Independence" and promote stable development across the Taiwan Straits.

Meanwhile, it will also help maintain peace, stability and prosperity of Taiwan Straits and Asia-Pacific region and promote stable development of Sino-US relations, he said.

"The US government should clearly opposes the act and take immediate measures to block it and remove its bad impact," said the spokesman.

He appealed to the US to honor its promise to adhere to the one-China policy, and obey the three Sino-US communiques and oppose "Taiwan Independence".

"We expect the US side to oppose and contain 'Taiwan Independence' together with China to ensure the cross-Strait peace and stable development of Sino-US relationship," said Liu.

ODA discussion

In response to a Japanese media report that Japan will stop providing new yen loans to China by the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Liu said the low-interest loans from Japan to China - one portion of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans, are capital co-operation.

He said history calls upon both countries to handle the issue properly in a spirit of responsibility towards the Sino-Japanese relationship.

Japanese media quoted Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura as saying that Japan and China had agreed to end the loans by 2008.

The Japanese Embassy downplayed the report.

"As far as I know, no official decision has been made by the Japanese Government concerning the ODA programme to China," Japanese Embassy spokesman Ide Keiji told China Daily yesterday.

Calling the ODA loans an important part of bilateral co-operation, he said both countries would work together to deal with the aid issue.

Japan's ODA for China include long-term yen loans, free grants and technical assistance. Most of the aid has come in the form of yen loans.

Wolfowitz nomination

Liu said that China would be happy to work with Paul Wolfowitz if he was appointed as the next World Bank chief and called on the World Bank to keep listening to voices from developing countries.

"Whoever becomes the next president of the World Bank, we will work with him as a president of the World Bank," Liu said.

"We believe that the World Bank, as the most important international development agency, plays a very important role in the area of aid... and I hope the new president will continue to promote 'sustainable and balanced' development of the world economy."

Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and his US counterpart Dick Cheney discussed Wolfowitz's nomination in a telephone conversation on Wednesday, according to the Foreign Ministry, but no details were revealed.

Current World Bank President James Wolfensohn is to stand down this summer.