DATE=2/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA - US - FALUN GONG (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259254
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:   China has hinted that, if the United States 
grants asylum to members of the banned Falun Gong 
exercise and meditation sect, it will create a new 
obstacle to improving Sino-US relations.  VOA 
Correspondent Roger Wilkison reports, China was 
reacting to remarks by a U-S immigration official, who 
did not discount the possibility that Falun Gong 
members could qualify for political asylum in the 
United States.


TEXT:  The Chinese Government says its crackdown on 
the group is designed to maintain social stability and 
prevent Falun Gong from doing what it describes as 
further harm to the Chinese people.  Thousands of 
Falun Gong members have been sent without trial to 
labor camps and hundreds of others have been tried and 
put in prison.

The U-S Government has been critical of China's 
crackdown on Falun Gong.  On Wednesday, in Hong Kong, 
an official of the U-S Immigration and Naturalization 
Service, Jean Christensen, was asked at a news 
conference whether Washington would grant political 
asylum to members of the group.

            /////CHRISTENSEN ACT/////

Asylum claims are strictly on an individual basis.  
You can't say that because you are a member of one 
category you would be automatically granted asylum.

            /////END ACTUALITY/////

But Ms. Christensen said that, if asylum seekers claim 
to be persecuted for political or religious reasons, 
their cases could be considered by U-S immigration.

            /////CHRISTENSEN ACT/////

Whether or not they would be successful would depend 
on individual circumstances.

            /////END ACTUALITY/////

China appears to have taken Ms. Christensen's remarks 
as an indication Washington is considering offering 
asylum to Falun Gong members.  Chinese Foreign 
Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said Thursday that  
reflects what he called a U-S double standard on the 
question of cults.  China has previously contrasted 
the U-S crackdown on the Branch Davidian religious 
cult with its criticism of the way Beijing has dealt 
with Falun Gong.  Speaking through an interpreter, Mr. 
Zhu says the United States is disregarding the facts.

            /////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////

We ask the U-S side to understand and respect the 
principled position of the Chinese government in 
resolving and handling the Falun Gong issue and 
refrain from doing anything that interferes in Chinese 
internal affairs and creates new difficulties for 
China-US relations.

            /////END ACTUALITY/////

The Chinese government considers Falun Gong an evil 
cult.  It banned the multi-million member group last 
July, three months after thousands of its followers 
staged a quiet protest to demand official recognition 
for their movement, in front of the Beijing compound 
where China's leaders live and work.

What particularly scared the leadership was the 
group's ability to mobilize its members.  As far as 
Beijing is concerned, Falun Gong is a threat to 
Communist Party rule.

Mr. Zhu says Beijing's crackdown on Falun Gong has won 
the support of the Chinese people and the  
understanding of the international community.  
(SIGNED)  

NEB/RW/FC



17-Feb-2000 05:11 AM EDT (17-Feb-2000 1011 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.