US condemnation 'ill-informed'

South China Morning Post, November 5, 1999

Beijing has blasted a US Senate committee for passing a resolution condemning the mainland crackdown on the Falun Gong. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said: "This is a flagrant interference in China's internal affairs.

"We ask the US congressmen to respect the facts without taking a double standard on the issue of heretical cults and stop mistaken actions like using the Falun Gong issue to interfere in China's internal affairs." On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted a resolution formally condemning Beijing and called for "an immediate end" to the persecution of religious groups. A vote could come next week.

The resolution's author, Republican Tim Hutchinson, said: "The Chinese Government has stepped far and away from international norms. It is imperative that we speak out for those suffering for their beliefs." Ms Zhang described his remarks as irresponsible and ill-informed.