China rejects US criticism on religious freedom

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The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday voiced opposition to US criticism of religious freedom in China and urged the US to look after its own affairs instead of making groundless accusations.

The US issued its annual religious freedom report on Tuesday, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson blaming seven countries, including China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Bahrain and Turkey, for serious problems in terms of religious freedom.

"China fully respects and protects people's religious freedom," said spokesperson Hua Chunying at a regular briefing in Beijing, adding that Chinese people of all ethnic groups and all regions enjoy religious freedom in accordance with law.

"We strongly oppose US baseless accusations and have made solemn representations with the US side."

Hua noted that the US is not perfect and called on the US to respect the facts, mind its own business, and stop using the religion issue to intervene in other countries' internal affairs.

Iran on Wednesday also rejected US report, saying it is "an unrealistic, baseless, unfounded and biased report which has only been made with the intention of certain political gains."

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