THE U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution Wednesday asking China to end its "crackdown" on Tibet and release "non-violent" Tibetans involved in "peaceful demonstrations," a CNN report said.

The resolution, proposed by the U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was passed just hours before the Olympic torch relay started in San Francisco.

The vote was 413-1. Republican Ron Paul, who recently dropped out of the U.S. presidential race, was the lone congressman voting against it, the report said.

The resolution also called on China to enter into "a substantive dialogue" with the Dalai Lama.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that the United States was looking at the possibility of setting up a consulate in Tibet on the excuse of "limited consular access for U.S. diplomats into Tibet."

FM spokesperson Jiang Yu said earlier this week that Pelosi's Tibet proposal was "with ulterior motives."

The spokesperson said the resolution neither condemned the mobs who conducted beating, smashing, robbing and burning in Lhasa nor did they denounce the Dalai clique who masterminded and organized violent crimes. It instead blamed the Chinese Government and the Chinese people.

Shen Dingli, a professor in international relations at Fudan University, slamed the U.S. congressmen for meddling in other people's affairs.

"The U.S. Government could discuss this issue with the Chinese Government," Shen told the Global Times. "The House of Representatives has overstepped its authority."

"Besides, Chinese police arrested only violent rioters. Why should a non-violent protester in peaceful demonstrations surrender to police?"

Shen also doubted the U.S. motives in planning a consulate in Tibet, saying Rice had picked this very sensitive moment to make the statement.

"We are not afraid of talking about this sensitive issue, as long as the United States has a proper reason for the consulate plan," he said. "But I'm afraid the Americans would not like it if China demanded to set up a consulate close to its key military bases."

China opposes the United States interfering with its internal affairs, especially with the U.S. criteria, that may harm the feelings of the Chinese people, Shen said.

"Besides, the criteria the Americans admire are not always right," he said.

(Mu Zi)