Society

China "expressed regret" over the use of military force in Libya even as it decided last week not to block authorization of the strikes at the United Nations Security Council. China's rare acquiescence moved it further away from its longstanding foreign policy based on non-intervention.

"The Chinese side has always opposed the use of military force in international relations," a government statement said after military strikes against Libya. The attacks are part of a European-led effort to establish a no-fly zone over the country and shake support for Libyan strongman Col. Moammar Gadhafi.

Analysts said the government's decision Thursday not to veto a Security Council resolution to approve the use of force in Libya reflects changes in Beijing's diplomatic strategy as its global interests become more extensive and complex.

China has in the past abstained or voted in favor of sanctions or military force only in cases where countries violated international nonproliferation rules or invaded another country. Beijing abstained, for example, in the vote on Resolution 678 in November 1990 authorizing the use of force against Iraq for its occupation of Kuwait in the Gulf War.

An explosion attacks Beijing municipal heating system at Sidaokou Crossing in Haidian district on Mar. 16, 2011.

The accident cause is unknown, Beijing police begins investigation, one death and injury report yet.

The new subway line construction field nearby is highly suspect.

China has suspended the approval process for nuclear power stations so that safety standards can be revised after explosions at a Japanese plant, according to Wednesday's executive meeting of the State Council, or the Cabinet.

The State Council has required relevant departments to do safety checks at existing plants, according to a statement released after the meeting, which was presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The statement said all reactors in operation in China are safe and the country remains unaffected by radioactive leakages following explosions at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant which was crippled by Friday's 9.0-magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami.

The radioactive leakages won't affect public health in China since they are diluted by the air and sea, the statement said, citing nuclear experts.

"Safety is our top priority in developing nuclear power plants, " the State Council said in the statement, calling for a comprehensive safety check and enhanced management over existing plants.

Before the revised safety standards are approved, all new nuclear power plants, including pre-construction works, should be suspended, according to the statement.

China has six nuclear power plants in operation, which are located along the country's eastern and southern coasts.

The State Council also required the country's environmental regulator, the National Nuclear Safety Administration, to step up monitoring of radioactive substances and issue alerts timely, said the statement.

On March 12, the National Nuclear Safety Administration, under China's Ministry of Environmental Protection, began nationwide radiation monitoring, with results released on its official website every day.

Early in the day another fire broke out at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, triggering fear in Tokyo and international alarm. Workers withdrew briefly because of surging radiation levels and a helicopter failed to drop water on the most troubled reactor.

The statement also said that China would continue help Japanese authorities to move Chinese citizens in Japan to safety.

FOREIGNERS are scrambling to leave Japan as nuclear fears mount but airline schedules are in chaos after dozens of carriers cancelled and redirected flights away from Tokyo.

International companies have set up evacuation plans in Tokyo and parts of northern Japan and many foreign groups were moving operations to the south and giving staff the opportunity to leave the country.

China has been quick off the mark and has been the first to start a large-scale evacuation of its citizens from affected areas, sending buses to four prefectures: Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Iwate to evacuate nationals.

The country was taking people to Toyko's Narita airport or Nigata airport on the northwest coast to board flights to China.

About 33,000 Chinese nationals live in the disaster-hit Japanese prefectures, the China News Service said. China successful lifted 30,000 of its citizens out of Libya when fighting broke out several weeks ago.