China protests US blacklisting of it as severe religious violator

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US Commission on International Religious Freedom's Annual Report 2015.
US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s Annual Report 2015.

(TibetanReview.net, May06, 2015) – China has on May 4 expressed anger that a US government advisory body has classified it as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) due to its “severe violations of religious freedom” in the country. China’s reaction followed the release by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom it annual report on Apr 30. The commission is an independent body with its members being appointed by both the US administration and congress.

China has continued to be designated as a CPC since 1999.

The report had highlighted the plight of Tibetan Buddhists and Uighur Muslims, saying ‘conditions are worse now than at any time in the past decade’. The report urged the State Department to continue to maintain China’s classification as a CPC, a ranking which includes North Korea, Vietnam and Myanmar as well.

China called the report an interference in China’s internal affairs, and said it had launched representations with the US commission.

Claiming that China “respects and protects” freedom of religious belief, foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying told reporters at a regular briefing in Beijing, “The so-called report…is full of political prejudice which brings unfounded accusations against China.”

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