The Associated Press

1/24/01

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As China pressed its crackdown on protests by the Falun Gong spiritual movement, Secretary of State Colin Powell told Beijing's ambassador Wednesday that his government should be tolerant and respect the law.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher renewed U.S. condemnation of China's actions against the Falun Gong and asked Chinese authorities to release all members detained for peacefully demanding the right to freedom of religion.

Boucher spoke after Powell met with Ambassador Li Zhaoxing, the secretary of state's first meeting with a foreign envoy since taking office Saturday. The half-hour meeting was a farewell call by Li, who returns shortly to Beijing to a senior position in the Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, Powell reaffirmed that the United States will be firm with China when differences arise, Boucher said.

Asked whether Powell told Li that imprisoned Falun Gong members should be released, Boucher said: "The message that Secretary Powell delivered was one of tolerance and rule of law."

The Falun Gong drew millions of followers in the 1990s with its ritual of slow-motion exercises combined with the [group]'s eclectic tenets that supporters say promote health and good citizenship. The government banned the [group] in 1999, a strong crackdown followed, and in recent weeks the movement has stepped up its resistance.

On Tuesday, New Year's Eve by China's lunar calendar, five members set themselves afire on Tienanmen Square in Beijing, the first confirmed use of self-immolation in the protest campaign. One of the five died. [Editor's note: the suicide has nothing to do with Falun Gong. See http://clearwisdom.net/eng/2001/Jan/23/VSF012301_3.html .]

Boucher said the United States is saddened by Tuesday's Tienanmen incident.

"The actions that led to such results are tragic for all of the people involved, most directly those who are injured and their families," Boucher said. "We note the statements by Falun Gong spokesmen that Falun Gong teachings oppose violence and suicide."

"And I would renew our condemnation of China's crackdown on Falun Gong," Boucher said. "I would call on China to release all of those detained or imprisoned for peacefully exercising their internationally recognized rights to freedom of religion, freedom of belief and freedom of conscience."

During Powell's meeting with Li, Boucher said, the secretary reaffirmed many of the points on China policy that he outlined before a Senate hearing last week.

He noted Powell's comments that the United States does not see China as an inevitable foe, that the two countries can cooperate in some areas, but there will be differences in others.

"The secretary also made clear that we have a one-China policy, and that we will follow the communiques and our other obligations with regard to China, as well as our obligations to meet the defensive needs of Taiwan," Boucher said.

The communiques the United States and China have agreed to over the years provide the framework within which the two countries conduct relations.

Boucher said Powell and Li had a brief discussion of the Bush administration's desire to build a defensive system against incoming missiles. China and other countries strongly oppose the idea.