China condemns Pompeo over religion remarks

At a briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin accused Pompeo of "slandering" other countries and "undermining their national harmony and interfering in their internal affairs".

Beijing: The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday accused US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of "fabricating all kinds of lies" about Beijing "out of ideological prejudice and selfish political interests".

Pompeo labelled China's ruling Communist Party the "gravest threat to the future of religious freedom" during a visit to Vietnam and has spoken extensively about China while on a five-nation Asia tour this week.

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told media he would seek advice from US allies regarding the future of China-US trade ties and tariffs if he is elected.

Wang refused to comment on the upcoming US election but reiterated China's position on the relations with Washington as "non-confrontation and non-conflict".

Meanwhile, the spokesperson claimed no Chinese law enforcement officers were among those arrested at the US Department of Justice under the charge of conspiring to act as illegal agents for China.

The Justice Department on Thursday charged eight people with seeking to coerce a New Jersey man who was wanted by Beijing under an operation called "Fox Hunt" that started years ago by the Chinese government to capture suspected economic criminals who fled overseas.

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US officials said the operation in practice often relies on threats, intimidation and bullying, often targeting dissidents and political opponents.

"Individual law enforcement agencies in the United States have also blatantly supported and provided asylum for Chinese fugitives, and even prevented the fugitives from returning to China to surrender," said Wang.

"What the US has done completely stands on the opposite side of justice and the rule of law," he added.

AP