Beijing,Oct 09: China has expressed strong displeasure at an annual report on religion issued by the US State department saying it interfered in the country's internal affairs in the name of religion and human rights. "It (the report) trampled the basic norms of international relations and rudely interfered in China's internal affairs," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, Zhang Qiyue said while reacting to the International Religious Freedom Report 2002 released by the US State department. The US report groundlessly criticised China's policy on religion, and even went as far as to overtly praise Falungong, Zhang told reporters here Tuesday.
"It is unreasonable on the part of the US to use religion as an excuse to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations," she said.
China has been protecting its citizens' religious rights as per the law, Zhang said and claimed that all ethnic groups and people in China enjoyed full religious freedom.
"On the other hand, China's laws do not allow illegal or criminal activities conducted by any organisation or individual in the name of religion," she said.
Zhang said the ban on Falun Gong cult and the crackdown on "east Turkistan" terrorist forces by Chinese government were aimed at protecting the religious freedom and basic human rights of its citizens. Bureau Report