China dismisses US report accusing it of religious freedom violations, claims Chinese have 'freedom of belief'
China protested the findings of a U.S. report saying it belongs to a list of countries in which violations of religious freedom are categorized as "severe."
Hong Lei, a spokesman for Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday, May 5 that although religious freedom is respected in China, the U.S. keeps accusing the Chinese government of abusing people's freedom to practice their religion.
"China is resolutely opposed to this and has already lodged stern representations with the U.S. side," Hong said, according to Reuters.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its 2016 Annual Report on May 2. In it, the commission recommended that China be re-designated as a "country of particular concern," along with eight other countries including Burma, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and North Korea.
"While the Chinese government sought to further assert itself on the global stage, at home it pursued policies to diminish the voices of individuals and organizations advocating for human rights and genuine rule of law," the report said.
The report cited forcible removal of crosses and demolition of churches as examples of religious freedom violation in China. Other abuses include the detention of human rights advocates and the ongoing crackdown on the minority groups Tibetan Buddhists and Uighur Muslims.
Hong strongly opposed the findings, saying the report ignored and twisted the facts.
"We demand the U.S. side objectively and justly view China's religious policy and Chinese citizens' freedom of belief and stop using the religious issue to interfere in China's internal affairs," Hong said, adding that the U.S. should just focus on its internal problems and should not "gesticulate about other countries."
Last month, the Congressional Executive Committee on China investigated the Chinese government's practice of torturing prisoners to force the confession of crimes or to make them renounce their faith.
Some of the torture methods discovered in the investigation included beatings, the use of electric shocks and administering drugs that had adverse effects on the body, Christian Times previously reported.
