Flashes of underwear and other inappropriate images in the China scenes of Mission Impossible 3 (MI3) might jeopardize China release of Tom Cruise's latest Hollywood blockbuster.

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise at the L.A. premiere of Mission Impossible 3 [Reuters]

Despite hitting American screens over a week ago, China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), is yet to approve MI3's mainland distribution, the Beijing News newspaper said on Monday.

Underwear hanging out to dry and other images "harmful to China" might be responsible, local papers have suggested.

"In the Shanghai scenes, all the roofs and alleys have raggedy clothes hanging from bamboo sticks everywhere," said the Beijing Times.

The paper also said that many movie-goers found the scenes shot in Shanghai and the village of Xitang "inappropriate," given both locations "became places for the storage of terrorists' chemical weapons."

"Chinese viewers will have trouble accepting this plot of foreign criminal elements fighting publicly in Shanghai," the paper quoted one viewer as saying.

SARFT's final verdict on releasing MI3 is due this week, the Beijing News said, adding that an official had expressed that its distribution chances were "high" -- but some editing would need to be carried out.

The official declined to provide further details, the paper said.