Mr. Robert Seiple, Special Representative of the U.S. Secretary of State for International Religious Freedom, visited China at the invitation of the State Administration of Religious Affairs of China from January 8 to 9, 1999, who was met respectively by Li Dezhu, Minister of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Ye Xiaowen, Director General of the State Administration for Religious Affairs. On September 9, U.S. State Department released its "1999 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom", with its China-related part containing presumptuous comments and arbitrary attack on China's religious policy. On the next day, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, while answering questions from correspondents, expressed his strong displeasure and resolute opposition to the release of the Report. On October 7, commenting on the U.S. threatening of imposing sanctions upon China on the so-called religious persecution, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman stated that, the U.S. State Department's action of making groundless accusation on China's religious affairs and threatening to impose sanctions on the basis of the U.S. domestic law, the so called International Religious Freedom Act, is in essence the gross interference with China's internal affairs under the pretext of the religious freedom. The Chinese side demands the U.S. side immediately correct its erroneous action of interfering with China's internal affairs by using the so-called question of religion, refrain from doing anything detrimental to the China-U.S. relations, so as to promote the restoration and the improvement of the China-U.S. relations with concrete actions. On December 6, in response to the U.S. government's decision to impose sanctions upon China in accordance with the so-called International Religious Freedom Act, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman stated that, the Chinese side has consistently opposed to the interference with the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of the question of religion. Recently, disregarding the Chinese side's solemn representations and strong opposition, the U.S. Government distorted the facts and made arbitrary attack on the Chinese side and even imposed the so-called sanctions upon China, which constitutes the grave violation of the basic norms governing international relations and the gross interference with China's internal affairs. The Chinese Government and people hereby express their strong indignation over this. The U.S. action has undermined the basis of the contacts between the two Governments of China and the U.S.A. on the question of religion. The Chinese side hereby demands that the U.S. side correct its mistake immediately, revoke its decision on the aforesaid sanctions, and eliminate with concrete action its adverse impact, on the bilateral relations.


On May 1, 2000, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom issued an annual report, with a section maliciously attacking China's policy on religion. On 3 May, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed deep resent and firm opposition to the report, and demanded the US Government to set store by the overall interests of China-US relations and stop interfering in China's internal affairs by using religious matters, oppose the above-mentioned report and take practical measures to eliminate its bad influences so as to avoid creating any new trouble or obstacles to the Sino-US relations.


On September 5, the US State Department issued the International Religious Freedom Report for 2000. The China-related part wantonly interfered in China 's internal affairs, and turned a blind eye to the facts that Chinese Government protects Chinese citizens' freedom for religious belief and normal religious activities in accordance with law. The report made uninvited attacks on China's religious policy and religious freedom by fabricating and distorting facts. On 6 September, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to it, and demanded the US side immediately stop and correct such egregiously erroneous act.