US Religious Report Hurts Sino-US Bilateral Ties

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 10, 2002

US Religious Report Hurts Sino-US Bilateral Ties

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In an annual report on religion released by the US State Department on Monday, China, along with several other countries, was once again accused of using so-called "totalitarian or authoritarian attempts to control religious belief or practice."

In the 2002 Report on International Religious Freedom, the United States points fingers at religious affairs in a total of 195 countries across the globe.

With the wishful thinking that the United States is perhaps the only country free from religion-related problems, the report does not include a single word on the religious conditions in the United States. In fact, its own record in this regard is far from perfect.

In playing its self-proclaimed role as the world's "human rights champion" and to serve its own political motives, the United States did not hesitate to interfere in what is a country's internal affairs. The United States is also too arrogant to confess that its unilateral behaviour poses a real predicament to the promotion of religious freedom in the world.

It is known to all that religious matters, as part of human rights, have long been used by the United States as an excuse to attack countries it dislikes.

This US act naturally was met with strong criticism from countries it victimized in its biased report.

Home to about 100 million followers of different faiths, China has always recognized people's right to religious freedom as an important component of their basic human rights.

Respecting religious freedom and guaranteeing the independence of religious groups are two basic principles of China's religious policy and are protected by the nation's Constitution and laws.

However, with a blind eye to China's achievements and endeavours in promoting religious freedom among its people, the US report mounted groundless criticism over China's religious policy.

China's rightful move to ban the Falun Gong cult was cited as evidence to support their alleged violations of religious freedom.

Such a deliberate confusing of right and wrong makes one question the objectivity and impartiality of the US report. More importantly, the US stance will definitely do harm to the healthy development of Sino-US relations.

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