Beijing fears America may disturb regional power balance

China is unsettled by the United States military presence in South Asia and its diplomatic involvement in the latest conflict between India and Pakistan, analysts say.

They believe Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's surprise second visit to Beijing in a month was to inform his closest ally of the latest events in the region. China, closely monitoring the build-up of troops on both sides of the border of disputed Kashmir, has called for restraint.

Respected South Asia analyst Riffat Hussain said yesterday that while China supported Washington's war against terrorism in Afghanistan, it nonetheless believed the US had a dual political agenda in the region.

'Any hostilities between India and Pakistan only strengthen the US' place to promote that agenda,' Dr Hussain said from Quaid-e-Azam University in the Pakistani capital Islamabad where he is a professor of international relations.

'Post-September 11, the American and Chinese relationship has settled considerably, but the balance of power has not settled yet and the Chinese are very concerned about that.'

Observers say that US involvement in the region may also be putting a wedge between alliances. Pakistan had been given major economic concessions to give the US assistance in fighting the war in Afghanistan, and new bonds had been built between Washington and New Delhi through similar co-operation.