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China slams US foreign affairs bill proposal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-19 22:33

BEIJING -- China on Tuesday rejected a US foreign relations bill proposal, saying it interfered in China's internal affairs.

"China resolutely rejected the US act and made solemn representations with the United States," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told the regular press conference.

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Ma's comments came as US Congressman Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced "Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 and 2011 (H.R.2410)" on May 14.

The Section 237 of the bill proposed giving grants to groups that protect Tibetan culture and history, or promote environmental protection, education and health care services there. The bill also devoted some clauses to Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Ma said the US act violated the basic principles guiding the international relations, the three China-US joint communiques and the commitments made by the US side.

"It meddled in China's domestic issues of Taiwan, Tibet and Hong Kong."

Ma urged the United States to prudently resolve the issues and delete China-related sections in the bill to avoid damaging the overall bilateral cooperation.