US urges Beijing to ease tension across Taiwan Strait

"The anti-secession law was not a welcome development because anything that is unilateral that increases tensions, which clearly, the anti-secession law did increase tensions, is not good," Rice told journalists after talks with Chinese leaders.

"I did talk to my Chinese counterparts about hopefully taking measures in the wake of this anti-secession law, taking measures that would demonstrate a willingness to reduce tensions in the cross-strait environment.

"We are not pleased when either side does anything unilaterally to either try to change the status quo or that increases tensions."

Rice, on a two-day visit, said she discussed the issue with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Her visit is her first as secretary of state and the highest-level US visit to China since the National People's Congress, China's parliament, unanimously passed the law last week.