TEL AVIV, June 22: The United States has recently warned Israel against selling arms to China, for fear it could harm US interests, the Haaretz daily reported on Friday.

“The Americans are worried by any possible escalation between China and Taiwan,” and are concerned that any arms deal would provide Beijing with military technology transfer at the expense of Taiwan, the daily said.

Reports of the warning follow a visit to Israel on Wednesday by China’s vice foreign minister for the Middle East and Africa, Yang Wenchang, for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Yang’s visit was the first by a high-ranking Chinese official since Israel’s cancellation in July 2000 of a contract for the sale of airborne radar systems to China.

Washington opposed the deal for fear it would tip the military balance across the Taiwan Strait in China’s favour.

Beijing reacted angrily to the cancellation of the sale. It had already spent millions of dollars on compatible equipment to be used with the radar systems.—AFP