The White House says the US government has decided against proposing a UN resolution critical of China's human rights policy.

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US representatives have advised other delegations of the 53-nation UN Human Rights Commission of this decision.

The White House says despite the United States decision not to introduce the resolution in Geneva, the Bush administration is still very critical of China's position on human rights.

Attempts to criticise China have led to clashes at the annual commission session. But China has succeeded in recent years at mustering enough support for its human rights record from member countries.

Last October, then-US secretary of state Colin Powell said the US and China had agreed to hold talks aimed at resuming their dialogue over human rights.

US attempts to criticise China have frequently been one of the main sources of tension between the two countries.

(CRI.com March 18, 2005)