China warns US over Tibet, Taiwan

China yesterday warned President Barack Obama not to meet the Dalai Lama and threatened diplomatic reprisals over US arms sales to Taiwan, widening an escalating feud between the world's top powers.

Beijing's tough rhetoric piled pressure on a crucial relationship already severely strained over internet search giant Google's threat to halt operations in China, which sparked a row over internet freedom, and a host of trade and currency disputes.

China and the US are working together on several pressing international disputes, including fraught negotiations aiming to curb the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran.

But Beijing hinted yesterday that it may no longer be willing to play by US rules on such key foreign policy issues, and blamed Washington for any negative consequences.


Former official in the dock

A former top justice official in southwestern China went on trial yesterday accused of mafia links, rape and accepting bribes in the latest lurid case stemming from a major crackdown on organised crime in the country.

Wen Qiang, former director of the justice department in Chongqing, is the highest-ranking official to appear in the dock in a string of prosecutions over corruption and mafia crime in the vast city.

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