The law has "created quite a difficult political environment," Straw told the British ITV television channel.

The Chinese parliament last Monday approved a anti-secession law that calls for the use of force if Taiwan declares its independence from mainland China. Beijing considers the island as an inalienable part of Chinese territory.

"Politically there are problems and these problems have actually got more difficult rather than less difficult, not least because there hasn't been much movement by China in respect of human rights," Straw said.

Asked whether the law would delay the lifting of the arms embargo against China, Straw said only that the question "is not on the agenda of the European Council this week."

Despite China's action EU foreign policy head Javier Solana said Thursday the EU would still endeavor to lift the arms embargo, which the Europeans had imposed on Beijing following its violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Washington, which is opposed to lifting the embargo, warned the Europeans again on Sunday against giving China access to armaments.

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