China has officially lodged its complaint against the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, which included the country on a religious affairs blacklist.

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the report released by the US federal advisory body about China's religious freedom was full of political bias and laden with accusations that are groundless.

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"The report is full of political bias and groundless accusation, which China strongly opposes," said Hua.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom said China is a "country of particular concern", meaning religious freedom in the Chinese territory is curtailed.

The annual report, published last week, placed China in line with Myanmar, Vietnam and North Korea, which all curtails religious freedom.

Hua clarified that placing China as a country of particular concern is unfair and groundless considering that the Chinese government fully respects and protects the full religious freedom of its citizens.

The foreign ministry spokesman stressed that the Chinese government has already lodged its protest to the US, urging the American government to quit interfering in China's internal affairs.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the Internal Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to be an independent and bipartisan commission of the US federal government. Commissioners are appointed by the US president.

The issue on religious freedom is just one of the many issues that China has accused the US of mislabeling.

Last week, the Chinese government also critized the US for making groundless accusations against Beijing.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yangsheng said the Pentagon report makes accusations about China that are groundless and baseless and the Chinese government resolutely oppose it.

Geng said China is closely following the new cybersecurity strategy of the US and is concerned about it.

 The 33-page cybersecurity strategy released by the Pentagon lists China as potential targets for cyber operations aimed at disrupting militar-related critical infrastructures.

The report also mentioned US concerns about the alleged Chinese cyberespionage on US firms and agencies.

Chinese authorities said the statement contained in the Pentagon report was groundless against China, saying the Chinese government has also been hit by cyberattacks and strongly opposes hacking in any form.

China asked the US government to promote harmonious cyber space security instead of just seeking its own security.

TagsChina religious freedom, China religion, US-China complaint