In its first press conference since President George W. Bush moved into the White House, the Chinese foreign ministry blasted the anti-missile defense plans and urged Washington to reconsider.

"The US plans go against the trend of the times and are detrimental to international disarmament and arms control efforts," said ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi.

"It will have far-reaching and extensive negative impacts on the global and regional strategic balance and stability in the 21st century," he said.

The plans for the anti-missile shield -- left undecided by ex-president Bill Clinton -- have been given renewed impetus as new US officials such as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have voiced strong support for the system.

China is at the forefront of international opposition to the system, as it thinks it will cement the role of the United States as the world's most dominant power.

Even more important, from China's perspective, is the possibility that a regional version of the anti-missile system could cover Taiwan and make it more difficult for Beijing to intimidate the island into reunifing with the mainland.

One of China's main arguments is that the planned system would violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty -- a point repeated by Sun on Tuesday.

"We hope the US side will abide by the ABM treaty, which has all along been the cornerstone in safeguarding the global strategic balance and stability and provided the necessary security framework for nuclear disarmament," he said.

Sun's remark came after the new US administration made it clear it remained committed to ensuring that Taiwan -- considered a renegade province by Beijing since their split in 1949 -- can defend itself.

"We have an obligation to Taiwan to make sure their ability to defend itself remains constant," Secretary of State Colin Powell said in a Sunday TV interview.

Sun admitted on Tuesday that Bush and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin have not had any direct dialogue since the new US head of state assumed office on January 20.

"We are confident (contacts between the leaders) will continue," said Sun. "But it should be decided by the two parties in consultations when telephone calls will be made."

Sun declined to confirm reports that Vice Premier Qian Qichen is planning to visit the United States as the first high-level official since Bush took office.

"It's too early for me to say if or when Vice Premier Qian will visit the United States," he said. "It's also too early to say which kind of topics will be discussed if he goes."

He said, however, that future high-level exchanges between China and the United States are likely to cover Taiwan, widely seen as the most divisive issue on the bilateral agenda.

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