WORLD : China Protests U.S. Sanctions

BEIJING — China lodged “a strong protest” against the Bush Administration and Congress today for imposing economic and military sanctions in response to the crushing of pro-democracy demonstrations last year.

Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Huaqiu delivered the toughly worded protest to James Lilley, the U.S. ambassador to Beijing, the official New China News Agency said.

“I am instructed to express our utmost indignation and lodge a strong protest with the U.S. government against the hegemonistic (aggressive) act of the U.S. Congress,” Liu said.

The Bush Administration is responsible for “the unbridled anti-China waves stirred up by the U.S. Congress,” he charged.

While China has aimed its previous attacks at the Congress over the sanctions issue, the latest protest was also clearly directed at the White House.

President Bush, who signed the long-stalled sanctions bill this week after modifying it in the face of a hostile Congress, was not mentioned by name in the Chinese protest.