China's foreign minister said Wednesday that the growing Asian power was committed to peaceful development as he warned the United States not to cause "setbacks" in relations over Tibet and Taiwan.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made the remarks several days after China announced that its military spending would top $100 billion in 2012, the latest sharp increase that has caused unease among US allies in Asia.

"China is committed to peaceful development. We hope that the United States will see China's development in the right and objective way and take more steps to increase our mutual trust," Yang told a conference at the US Institute of Peace in Washington by video link from Beijing.

"China welcomes a constructive role played by the United States for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and we hope that the United States will respect China's interests and concerns in the region," he said.

Specifically, Yang called on the United States to "honor its commitments related to Taiwan and Tibet so as to prevent setbacks in US-China relations and ensure their steady growth."

Beijing considers Tibet and self-governing Taiwan to be its territories. US officials have voiced concern over a wave of self-immolations by Tibetans who charge that Chinese rule has stifled their religious and political freedoms.

Tensions on Taiwan, however, have ebbed since 2008 when the island elected Beijing-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou.

Yang also renewed calls on the United States not to make China a political issue. China has already figured in election-year campaigning by politicians of both major US parties who have criticized Beijing over its trade practices or holdings of US debt.

The US Congress on Tuesday gave the government renewed authority to slap tariffs on billions of dollars worth of imports seen as subsidized by China through its state-run economy.

Repeating a figure often cited by Chinese leaders, Yang argued that US consumers have saved $600 billion by buying the Asian manufacturing giant's inexpensive goods.