"We've only seen the reports. We've asked the Luxembourg side to clarify the matter," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

"Perhaps the reports had some errors, but nonetheless ... we hope the EU can make a correct decision at an early date, lift the embargo against China to push forward comprehensive development in China-EU relations and sweep away unnecessary obstacles," he told a regular briefing.

Luxembourg's junior foreign minister Nicolas Schmit said Tuesday EU members were unlikely to reach agreement on lifting their arms embargo against China by the end of June as previously expected.

"That was the goal but it is a goal that cannot be reached," said Schmit.

"I tell you frankly. I would not bet today that the lifting of the embargo will be decided on before the end of June," Schmit said.

Despite US opposition the EU has been moving towards lifting the arms sales ban that it slapped on China after the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy students in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Led by France and Germany, European leaders last December asked foreign ministers to draft an accord on removing the embargo by the end of June.

Support for its lifting has waned somewhat since China passed a controversial anti-secession law which authorises the use of military force against Taiwan if the island moves toward formal independence.

China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, says it wants the ban removed because it is outdated and amounts to "political discrimination." It insists it is not motivated by a desire to buy weapons from Europe.

Liu Thursday also criticized the United States and Japan for their opposition to lifting the EU ban.

"China is in opposition to their groundless, passive attitudes as its request of the EU to lift the arms embargo is not targeted against the United States, Japan or any other third party," Liu told the news conference.

The United States argues that the lifting of the ban would send a wrong signal to China at such a tense time and could tilt the military balance in the Asia-Pacific.

Japan is also opposed to lifting the embargo, citing concern over China's double-digit growth in military spending for more than a decade.

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