Chinese President Hu Jintao has warned that coalition airstrikes on Libya could violate the spirit of the UN resolution on the North African country if civilians are killed in the process.
Speaking at a press conference with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy Wednesday, Hu also said violence would not resolve the armed political stand-off in Libya.
Rebels in eastern Libya are fighting to end Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's 41-year hold on power.
Sarkozy is a strong backer of the coalition operation against Gadhafi that aims to destroy the Libyan leader's air and land defenses, and prevent him from attacking his own people.
But China's state news agency reported that Hu said if the military action were to "bring disaster" to civilians, then the operation would run counter to the intent of the United Nations resolution. Hu also said China disapproved of the use of military force in international affairs.
Sarkozy was in China at a meeting of the Group of 20 top world economies.
China abstained from the UN Security Council vote on Libya, but did not veto the resolution.