JERUSALEM, Dec 29: A top Chinese official on Wednesday warned the United States against meddling in Beijing's affairs after Washington reportedly told Israel not to upgrade a consignment of drones returned by China.

"Any interference from any country in the world is groundless and unreasonable," state councillor for foreign relations Tang Jiaxuan told reporters after meeting Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

"We have cooperation in several fields (with Israel) and none of them violates the interest of any third party," he added. Reports here last week said that the US had demanded Israel does not upgrade the consignment of drones which had been returned by China for upgrading.

While Washington had given the green light for repairs to the Israeli-made Harpy drones, which were sold to China in the mid-1990s, they had not authorized their upgrade. Any suggestion of a rift with the United States is particularly sensitive in Israel, which regards its alliance with Washington as of paramount strategic importance.

Washington is concerned that advanced US defence technology contained in Israeli equipment could be used against Taiwan. The incident reared its head in parliament on Wednesday when Amos Yaron, director general of the defence ministry, refused to answer questions on the drones when he appeared before the foreign affairs and defence committee.

Some MPs stormed out in protest, including the left-wing Yahad party's deputy Yossi Sarid. "Amos Yaron said that the problem will be solved," Mr Sarid told reporters. "That's a ridiculous answer and is a reflection of how officials in the defence ministry are trying to give themselves cover."

Emphasizing plans to strengthen trade with China, Mr Shalom told the same press conference with Mr Tang that the issue of the drones "is between the two governments and should be left to them". He said he was confident "an appropriate solution ... will be reached in a short time". -AFP