BEIJING, Nov 2: China refused to deny on Tuesday that a stinging article by former foreign minister Qian Qichen criticizing President George W. Bush reflected the government's opinion, but said the story was not authorised for publication.

The foreign ministry said the commentary on the eve of US elections should not have appeared.

"Qian Qichen did not accept any interviews from China Daily or other Chinese media nor did he write any articles for China Daily," ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said.

In the rare opinion piece published Monday on the eve of the elections in the government-run English-language newspaper Qian, also a former vice premier, broke China's tradition of not commenting on US presidential candidates by chastising Bush for employing diplomacy based on force.

He blamed the US-led invasion of Iraq for sparking an increase in terrorist attacks, and accused an "arrogant" United States of trying to "rule the world."

Zhang would not deny that the opinions of the highly respected and influential senior statesman reflected the views of the Chinese government, but neither would she endorse the article.

She, however, reiterated China's stance in favour of using a multilateral approach to resolve issues such as terrorism.

"We should rely on cooperation among various countries to commonly address challenges facing the world, including terrorists and other issues," Zhang said at a regular briefing.

Qian's article was first published on October 25 in the Study Times, a weekly newspaper run by the Chinese Communist Party central committee's party school.

It was printed Monday in the China Daily, a paper China uses to present its opinions to the world.

Asked how a government-controlled mouthpiece could run such an article if it did not reflect the Chinese government's position, Zhang suggested Beijing may share some of the views that the United States wages unnecessary wars with only its own interest in mind.

"Various countries should establish a new concept of security, that is one based on mutual benefit and security and take into account the security of others," she said.

The United States said on Monday it would seek clarification from China over Qian's remarks, because he was still "a respected figure."

"He's an elder statesman. And just to make crystal clear that they do not reflect the view of the Chinese government," US State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said.-AFP