BEIJING (AP) Sept 14 -- China summoned the top U.S. Embassy official today to lodge a formal protest over a White House meeting between the Dalai Lama and President Clinton.

Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told Scott Hallford, the embassy's charge d'affaires, that China blamed the United States for "connivance with and support to Dalai's clamor for the independence of Tibet," Foreign Ministry spokesman Chen Jian said.

The meeting was a "gross interference in China's internal affairs," Chen said.

Clinton dropped by briefly as the Dalai Lama met with Vice President Al Gore at the White House on Wednesday. The meeting's low profile was apparently meant to avoid further strains in U.S.-China relations. China demanded the United States stop taking actions that "hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and undermine bilateral relations," Chen said.

China sees Tibet as part of its territory, while many Tibetans clai in May. China protested the U.S. decision to allow Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui to visit Cornell University, his alma mater.

Chen also criticized the U.S. Congress for plans to deliberate on a bill that would support Taiwan's admission into the United Nations.

"Taiwan, as a province of China, has no right whatsoever to be part of it," Chen said. He called the bill "brazen trampling on the U.N. charter and a serious encroachment on China's sovereignty."

A variety of pro-Taiwan bills have been put forward by Republicans in Congress.

Disputes over human rights, trade and Beijing's export of missile technology are also straining ties.

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists and head of a government-in-exile, has called for stronger U.S. backing for talks between his group and the Chinese government.

Chen said China would talk with the Dalai Lama when he stopped advocating independence for Tibet.

Hallford has been the top embassy official since Ambassador Stapleton Roy was reassigned this summer. China has refused to approve proposed replacements for Roy.