BEIJING (AP) - China pressed US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice yesterday to end sales of advanced weapons to Taiwan, a discordant note in her visit to discuss efforts to persuade North Korea to dismantle its nuclear programme.

Washington is also looking for Chinese support on Iraq and a wide range of other issues.

Former president Jiang Zemin, who still holds a key military post, expressed Beijing's frustration at US weapons sales to Taiwan, state television reported. It said he warned that the self-ruled island is the "most important and sensitive issue" in US-Chinese relations.

"Chinese people are seriously concerned over and dissatisfied about US sales of advanced weapons to Taiwan," the evening news paraphrased Jiang as telling Rice during a 60-minute meeting.

Jiang, chairman of the Communist Party commission that runs China's military, pressed Rice for Washington to abide by a US commitment made in the 1980s to reduce and eventually end weapons sales to Taiwan, the report said.

Chinese leaders regularly raise the issue of US support for Taiwan with American officials. China says Washington might not appreciate the depth of its opposition and could be encouraging activists who want to make the island's de facto independence permanent.

Taiwan and the mainland have been ruled separately since 1949, but Beijing claims the island as its territory and has threatened to attack if Taiwan declares independence.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World