BEIJING. Feb 1: China today slammed a White House report on US global leadership objectives in the next century saying it was tantamount to a manifesto for world domination, reports AFP.

To lead the world" is the same thing as seeking global hegemony, so this report is the same thing as a manifest, on the US plan to establish global hegemony in the 21st century." the leading People s Dally said in a signed commentary.

US insistence on taking a "leadership role" and "forging a new world order" were clear indications of US hegemony, it said, as was US willingness to protect its economic interests abroad and promote global democracy and human rights.

The commentary came as the US House of Representatives prepared to vote Tuesday on the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act. which will allow for close ties between the US and Taiwan military leaders.

China has strongly warned the bill would undermine relations between Beijing and Washington.

The People s Dally was referring lo tne White House report "A National Strategic Security for a New Centrry." which was released in Wasl ng-ton in early January.

The article said Washington wanted fulfill its desire to dominate the world after it failed to do so at the end of World War 11 and the Cold War.

The US believes that up until the year 2015 there will be no other global strategic adver- sary capable of opposing it, so this is its third opportunity to claim title to global hegemony," it said.

America would achieve its goals through the use of its "soft forces" — such as the Internet. film, television, books, capital and consumer products — which would be backed up by the "hard forces" of its military as seen In the 1991 Gulf War and the bombing of Yugoslavia last year. It said.

The US has a plan to forge' international political and economic order which Includes the freedom of movement of its soft forces' and its position that the UN. WTO and other international organisations should completely serve the US," it said.