The United States said Thursday it sees "eye to eye" with China on curbing North Korea's nuclear ambitions despite rows over US arms sales to Taiwan and other issues.

"I don't think the evidence supports that," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said when a reporter suggested US-Chinese tensions could undermine the six-party talks for North Korea's nuclear disarmament.

"We see eye to eye with China with respect to our concerns about NKorea," Crowley said, underscoring that China chairs six-party disarmament talks also featuring the US, South Korea, North Korea, Japan and Russia.

China on Tuesday warned the United States that their cooperation on international and regional issues could suffer over Washington's decision to sell arms to Taiwan.

The United States is also clashing with China over Obama's planned meetings with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, Internet freedom in China, climate change, and efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Crowley sought to play down suggestions that there were tensions with China over Iran as Beijing calls for more diplomacy and resists a US push for tougher sanctions against Tehran for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

"I wouldn't call it an area of tension so much as an area of discussion," Crowley said.