A story in The Christian Post told of China’s irritation with a report issued this week by the United States government criticizing China’s lack of religious freedom within their nation. The U.S. State Department calls China one of the “Countries of Particular Concern” in regards to religious freedom violations; these countries are typically subject to actions such as economic sanctions by the U.S.
Jiang Yu from the Chinese Foreign Ministry commented bluntly on the report, “China firmly opposes the United States intervening in our domestic policy affairs by issuing such a report…Chinese people across all ethnic groups enjoy the full freedom to practice religious beliefs in accordance with the law. We are urging the United States to exert greater efforts toward the development of bilateral relations.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referred to several instances in China and other countries where religious freedoms were being violated regularly, insisting that such “hateful, senseless violence has no aim other than to undermine the fabric of peaceful society.” She also said the U.S. will continue to speak out against violations to religious freedom around the world for reasons of “stability, for American national security, and for global security.”
To read the whole report, click here.
