"We do not now believe that the EU is close to a decision to lifting the embargo itself. But we realize that we must keep this issue at the forefront of our agenda with the EU in Brussels and with all the EU governments -- and we intend to do just that," Nicholas Burns, the US State Department Under Secretary for Political Affairs, told a congressional panel.

Over the past several months Washington has lobbied intensely to convince its European allies that it would be a grave mistake to sell sophisticated weapons to China, which is on the cusp of becoming a global military power amid tense relations with a US ally, Taiwan.

At a rare joint hearing of the House of Representatives' Armed Services and International Relations Committees, Burns told lawmakers that before the United States intervened, sale of sensitive weapons to China had seemed inevitable, and observers predicted a deal by the summer of 2004.

"We made US security and human rights concerns known to all the EU member states, and the EU has now taken the time to consider the larger implications of lifting the embargo," Burns told lawmakers.

US officials next week will begin discussions with the European Union "where we will describe our interests ... as the guarantor of peace and security in Asia and the Pacific region and the Straits of Taiwan itself," Burns said, calling such talks "long overdue."

Burns and other officials testifying at the hearing insisted that the sale of high-tech weapons to China would threaten US and EU security and upset the balance of power in Asia.

"The question remains, in our minds, why some in the European Union still support lifting the embargo, faced with the arguments put forward by the United States government, by the Congress and by Japan and others," Burns said.

"We believe that the EU's lifting of the embargo would negatively effect regional stability, as well as American security interests," said Burns, saying China increasingly is flexing its muscle in the region.

Under Secretary of Defense Peter Rodman echoed Burns' views, saying the Pentagon has watched China's recent military buildup with alarm.

"To us, it's not just an abstract issue of political symbolism or export control policy. It could directly affect the safety of American military personnel in the Asia-Pacific region," Rodman said.

"We worry that China will exploit openings that it may see in Europe to seek to buy advanced technologies ... the most advanced electronics or systems of different kinds, that will assist in its qualitative improvement," said Rodman.

The United States, Europe, Japan and other countries imposed the weapons ban following the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy students in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Burns said Beijing has not yet made sufficient progress in human rights to reverse that decision.

Germany and France, among others, say the ban is no longer necessary because Beijing has changed so much since the Tiananman crackdown and say the sales would help boost trade ties with China, the second-biggest EU trading partner.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, an outspoken supporter of arm sales to Beijing, continued to push on Thursday for an end to the EU embargo.

"With our policy towards China, we should pursue a long-term relationship with China in all areas, including security policy.

"Sanctions are designed to isolate and punish; the German government wants to develop cooperation, which can bring about change," Schroeder said.

But evidence of Europe's retreat on the weapons sale came Thursday, when the European parliament moved to keep the arms ban, citing China's lack of progress on "human rights and democracy issues" and expressing support for Taiwan as a model for democracy "for the whole of China."

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