Beijing - China yesterday hit out at "interference" by the United States, following criticism in Washington of its crackdown on the mystical Falun Gong sect, in a hard-line statement calling the group an "evil religion". "China is strongly opposed to interference from other countries in its internal affairs," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Falun Gong is an anti-scientific, anti-human, anti-social, anti-government and illegal organisation with all the characteristics of an evil religion," it said.
"The Chinese government is dealing with the question of the Falun Gong in accordance with the rule of law, safeguarding the basic rights of its citizens, and protecting its own laws and constitution," it said. The statement - which took a tougher line than earlier announcements saying the Falun Gong was merely illegal - followed US opposition to the crackdown voiced on Wednesday by the US State Department spokesman, Mr James Foley.