Spokeswoman Refutes US Charges against China's Religious Affairs ����The Chinese government and people are highly indignant over and firmly opposed to the US State Department's unwarranted charges against China's religious affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing October 7. ����The US State Department recently criticized China's religion affairs on the basis of the Religious Freedom Act of the United States, and threatened to impose sanctions against China, Zhang said. ����The Chinese government adopts the policy of religious freedom, which has been guaranteed by law, Zhang said, adding that article 36 of China's Constitution stipulates that the citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy religious freedom. ����Zhang said that instead of being concerned about its many domestic issues, including religion, the US government is keen on making slanderous accusations against China's religious affairs and even threatens to impose the so-call sanctions. ����This is in essence a wanton interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of religious freedom, she said. ����The Chinese government and people will never accept this, she said. ����Zhang said that recently the United States has repeatedly expressed its desire to restore and improve Sino-US relations, and that the relationship has reached a crucial point. ����The Chinese are demanding that the United States discontinue using the so-called religious issue to interfere in China's internal affairs, and promote the improvement of Sino-US relations with action, instead of doing anything detrimental to the bilateral relations, she said. (Xinhua) HomeNews 1999-10-08 Page4 Full Story in Chinese