(October 28, 1999) China on October 28, 1999 expressed strong resentment over U.S. charges against China's dealing with the Falun Gong cult.

Commenting on U.S. Department of State spokesman James Rubin's remarks on the matter on October 27, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said that Rubin has made gratuitous charges against the Chinese government's settlement of the Falun Gong issue by distorting facts, and the Chinese side expressed strong resentment over that.

It must be pointed out, Zhang said, that China is a country ruled according to law, and China's laws not only protect the freedoms of association, speech, assembly and religious belief of its citizens, but also brook no abuses of these freedoms by anyone.

Facts have shown that the Falun Gong cult harms the physical and mental health of the people, and undermines normal public order, Zhang said, adding that it is an anti-science, anti-humanity and anti-society cult.

"No responsible government will ever allow cults to harm the people's safety, or undermine public order and social stability," the spokeswoman said, adding that accommodation of cults is in itself trampling on the basic human rights of the citizens.

The Chinese government settles the Falun Gong issue according to laws, and by doing so it is protecting the basic human rights and the freedoms of citizens and safeguarding China's Constitution and laws, Zhang said.

"What the Chinese government has done has won firm support from the entire Chinese people," she said, adding that in this issue the Chinese government firmly opposes any irresponsible remarks on and interference in China's internal affairs.