BEIJING 6 Aug (AP) -- China accused the United States today of trying to meddle in its domestic policy by wanting to appoint an official to handle Tibet-related affairs.

In the first public reaction since Secretary of State Madeleine Albright last week proposed appointing a U.S. policy coordinator for Tibet, the newspaper China Daily warned Washington to ``draw back the hand that tries to stir China's business.''

``No one has received an invitation to do such a `favor' for China,'' said the editorial.

``No one has even asked China's opinion of such a move, in which the U.S. again takes a hand in another's domestic affairs,'' it said.

Albright's offer came after Congress demanded the appointment of an ambassador to handle contacts with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan religious leader, and handle U.S. government activities affecting the remote Himalayan region.

But her proposal stressed the position would not imply diplomatic recognition of the Tibetan government-in-exile, which is led by the Dalai Lama, and would not promote Tibetan independence from China.

China has long accused what it calls ``hostile foreign forces'' of using the Dalai Lama to promote independence for Tibet, which its troops occupied in the 1950s.

The China Daily commentary emphasized efforts to promote economic development in the impoverished region.

Beijing staunchly defends its policies in Tibet, arguing that it has spent much money on promoting the Tibetan Buddhist religion and the indigenous culture and language.

But many devout Tibetans have resisted Beijing's campaign to discredit the Dalai Lama and to promote loyalty to the Chinese Communist government.