CHINA urged Singapore Feb 19 not to strengthen ties with Taiwan in response to plans by the city state to welcome a visit by Taiwan's president and establish military exchanges with Taipei.

Senior Chinese defense official Guo Boxiong told Singapore's second minister for defence Teo Chee Han that China was opposed to any country which has diplomatic relations with China, as Singapore does, developing official ties with Taiwan, the official news agency Xinhua said.

Guo, executive deputy chief of the general staff of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), made the point during talks with Teo on the first day of Teo's four-day visit to Beijing to meet Chinese defense officials.

"We hope that the related countries shall keep alert for the political attempt of the Taiwan authorities of splitting from the motherland, and observe (the) one-China commitment," Guo said.

He added that friendly relations between Singapore and China "conforms to the fundamental interest of the people of the two countries, and benefits regional peace and development."

The remarks followed reports from Taiwan that President Chen Shui-bian will visit Singapore later this month.

The two lack diplomatic relations, so the Taiwanese leader will travel to the city state for the first time on holiday.

But Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory, has warned its diplomatic allies not to host visits of Taiwanese leaders and high-ranking officials.

Chen is expected to meet Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong during his two- or three-day trip.

Reports in Taiwan also said Taiwan and Singapore plan to renew military cooperation later this month.

Teo on Feb 19 told Guo that Singapore adheres to the one-China stance, which defines communist China as the only China and views Taiwan as a part of Chinese territory.

China considers Taiwan a province of China which must be eventually reunified. The island separated from the mainland following a civil war in 1949.

Teo's schedule will include talks with Defence Minister General Chi Haotian and other top military and defence officials.

He will also visit some units of the People's Liberation Army, hold discussions on security issues with defence think-thanks and visit the naval base of the North Sea Fleet in Qingdao.