US President George W. Bush said on Thursday he was worried China had helped Baghdad enhance its air defense systems, risking the lives of US aircrews patrolling a "no-fly" zone over Iraq.
Protecting pilots was the reason given for US-British strikes on air defense installations near Baghdad on Feb. 16.
Bush said Washington was asking Beijing for an explanation of an issue that has clouded relations with the communist giant in his first month in office.
"We're concerned about the Chinese presence in Iraq and ... my administration is sending the appropriate response to the Chinese," Bush told a news conference.
"It's troubling that they be involved in helping Iraq develop a system that will endanger our pilots," he said. "It has risen to the level where we are going to send a message to the Chinese."
His words were among the sharpest against China by Washington since relations recovered from a low hit in May 1999, when US jets on a NATO mission bombed China's embassy in Belgrade. Washington said it was a mistake.
The US first went public about its concerns about the Chinese workers after last week's bombing.
Beijing has denied the allegations, first carried in US newspapers this week. A foreign ministry spokesman said Washington was trying to distract attention from the strikes against Iraq.
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