BEIJING: China rejected a recent statement of US Secretary of State Pompeo that China is greatest threat to religious freedom.
A spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin said at a regular news’ briefing that Pompeo’s comment is a vicious slander.
The truth is, he said “the Chinese government attaches high importance to the protection of freedom of religious belief, and the Chinese people enjoy full freedom of religious belief according to law.
Among all ethnic groups in China, there are nearly 200 million religious believers, more than 380,000 clerical personnel, and over 140,000 places of worship registered for religious activities.
By contrast, the religious status of ethnic minorities in the United States is worrisome. According to polls by Gallup and Pew Research Center, 75 percent of Muslims in the United States believe there is serious discrimination against Muslims in the American society.
Out of ideological bias and selfish political agenda, Pompeo and his like are taking religious freedom as a pretext to slander other countries, undermine harmony among various ethnic groups and interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. It is an unpopular move that is denounced by the international community.
We urge Pompeo to stop fabricating clumsy lies on China and stop meddling in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of religion.”
Replying to a question, Wang Wenbin said, the U.S. presidential election is the country’s internal affair. We don’t comment on it.
” As to China-U.S. relations, China’s policy on the United States remains highly stable and consistent.
We are committed to developing a China-U.S. relationship featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.
In the meantime, we firmly uphold our own sovereignty, security and development interests. – Agencies
