BEIJING has proffered a stick to Denmark and a carrot to France after France's decision to block European Union agreement on a United Nations resolution condemning China's human rights record.
Denmark is pressing ahead with its own resolution.
The Chinese President, Mr Jiang Zemin, told France's visiting Defence Minister, Mr Charles Millon, in Beijing yesterday that China was committed to signing one of two major UN conventions on human rights before the end of [the year - that dealing with economic, social and cultural rights.
In an obvious sop to France, Mr Jiang also said that China was studying the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights.
The Chinese government warned that Denmark would be the "biggest loser" and political, economic and trade relations would be severely damaged, it if proceeded with its resolution criticising China to the European Commission on Human Rights.
The fury of the Chinese at Denmark's action could mean that relations between Beijing and the 10 other EU countries which plan to co sponsor the resolution - including Ireland - could also come under strain.
"We still hope Denmark will think twice of the consequences," a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mr Shen Guofang, told reporters in Beijing. With a confrontational approach, "the basis for dialogue will be ruined", he said.
"If Denmark insists, relations between China and Denmark will be seriously damaged in political and trade and economic areas. Denmark will end up the biggest loser."
The EU has sponsored a resolution critical of China every year since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
President Jiang called the French decision to block a common EU stance "very good". Premier Li Peng said that China "appreciated the perceptive and intelligent decision" by the French President, Mr Jacques Chirac.
There has also been concern that the affair could affect Chinese Irish relations. A joint China Ireland trade commission is being planned, and Aer Rianta hopes to get a duty free contract for new airport terminals in Beijing and Hong Kong.
Patrick Smyth adds from Noordwijk: Over dinner at the Foreign Ministers' meeting here on Sunday night France came under sustained criticism for its refusal to allow a common resolution on China at the UN Human Rights Commission. But, in a somewhat embarrassing climbdown by the Dutch, the presidency agreed not to withdraw six other human rights resolutions in protest.
The Dutch Foreign Minister, Mr Hans van Mierlo, had argued that to allow them to proceed would only undermine EU credibility by opening it up to allegations of double standards.
Eleven EU countries - including Ireland - and the US are now expected to back a Danish motion on China.