China has filed a formal diplomatic complaint against a report released by the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The commission used critical language to condemn the state of religious freedom in China. In response, Beijing has said that the report is biased and described it as an 'attack.'

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China has filed the complaint with the United States against the report which branded China as a "country of particular concern." The report criticized the Chinese government for "deliberate and unrelenting crackdown on human rights and dissent."

Speaking at a press briefing, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei stated that "The Chinese government fully respects and protects its citizens' freedom of religion in line with the law, and Chinese citizens enjoy the rights to full religious freedom in accordance with the law."

He accused the US government of distorting facts to malign China's reputation.

China has faced criticisms for its widely reported campaign to remove crosses from the roofs of churches. Authorities have reportedly removed more than 2,000 church crosses in Zhejiang province. The campaign was labeled a 'beautification' program.

Pastor Boo Guohua and his wife, who lead a congregation in opposition to the move to remove crosses from churches, has been arrested and sentenced to 14 years and 12 years respectively in prison.

The US report accused China of pursuing "policies to diminish the voices of individuals and organizations advocating for human rights and genuine rule of law." In April, five priests belonging to an underground Catholic Church in China went missing.

China is an officially atheist country but offers religious freedom to all. However, the Chinese Communist Party has been wary of foreign influence through religion which may topple the country's social balance.

Tagschina, USCIRF, Catholic Church