SARA MINISTER APOLOGIZES FOR CRITICAL IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000413 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/CM, DRL/IRF NSC FOR WILDER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KIRF CH SUBJECT: SARA MINISTER APOLOGIZES FOR CRITICAL IRAQ ARTICLE, DISCUSSES PARTY VIEW ON RELIGION, HOUSE CHURCH LEADER YU JIE, UPCOMING VISIT, CARDINAL ZEN, CHURCH REGISTRATION BEIJING 00000413 001.4 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr.; Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) Minister Ye Xiaowen twice apologized for a February 1, 2007 People's Daily website article, "Bush Should Reflect Deeply," in which he criticized the President's handling of the Iraq war. Minister Ye told the Ambassador that the Communist Party is placing increased emphasis on religion and religious development and that the 17th Party Congress clarified the "basic direction" of religion in China by incorporating religious work into Party guidelines. Minister Ye said he hopes President Bush will not meet with Christian activist Yu Jie, who reportedly is in the U.S. and has been invited to attend the upcoming National Prayer Breakfast. Minister Ye also confirmed that he will lead a mid-February 2008 delegation to the United States, where he will deliver a speech at Georgetown University, sign a cultural exchange agreement with the University and attend the launch of a book co-authored by Christian evangelist Rev. Luis Palau and former State Council Information Office Minister Zhao Qizheng. Minister Ye said he welcomes the news that the Vatican has appointed a successor to Cardinal Zen as coadjutor bishop of Hong Kong. A SARA official at the lunch said she will look into reports that authorities in some areas prevent Christians from registering without cause. End Summary. Ye Apologizes for Article Criticizing U.S. Iraq Policy -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) On February 4, Minister Ye hosted the Ambassador for lunch. Minister Ye was anxious to apologize for a February 1, 2007 People's Daily website article in which he criticized President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq. (Note: The Chinese Government removed the article, titled "Bush Should Reflect Deeply," from the website soon after the Embassy raised this issue with the MFA. End note.) The Minister distanced himself from the article, saying that "even the title was not mine," clarified that he meant no disrespect to President Bush and apologized twice for "any unhappiness caused by the article." Ye said he hopes that the United States will not "treat Islam as terrorism" and that the United States will cooperate with China in fighting the "common enemy" of terrorism. The Ambassador noted that Islam and terrorism are distinct and that millions of Muslims prosper in and contribute to U.S. society. The Ambassador reminded Minister Ye that the United States works closely with China to counter terrorist threats. Party Attentive to Religious Development, Incorporates "Religious Work" into Guidelines -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Minister Ye said that the Politburo's December 18 collective study session on religious work, the 47th in a series of monthly study sessions to brief Politburo members on issues in Chinese society, was the first such session focusing on religion. The choice of religion as a study topic reflects the Communist Party's increasing emphasis on religion and religious development as well as the leadership's willingness to resolve religious issues in a way that respects "religious rules." The focus on religion, Ye said, also reflects the Party's increased attention to the positive role of religion in building a harmonious society. ¶4. (C) Ye said that the 17th Party Congress clarified the "basic direction" of religion in China by incorporating religious work into Communist Party guidelines and the guidelines for officials overseeing "religious work" in China. Key text states that officials will fully implement the policy of religious belief, administer religious affairs according to law, respect the principle of independence in religion and "positively guide religion" to adjust to the conditions of socialst society. The final point, Ye said, seeks o eliminate religion as a point of friction within society while acknowledging that "religion will be around for a long time" in China. Minister Ye highlighted the portion of Hu Jintao's 17th Communist Party Congress political report emphasizing the positive role of religion in society. Minister Ye cited the efforts of Chinese faithful to assist in disaster relief efforts following the winter storms that BEIJING 00000413 002.4 OF 002 have wreaked havoc in large parts of southern and central China as evidence that they are taking on an increased role. He said that Buddhist and Taoist leaders only yesterday donated three million RMB for use in Guizhou Province. SARA Hopes President Bush will not Meet with Christian Activist Yu Jie -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Minister Ye said he had learned from unconfirmed Internet reports that Christian activist Yu Jie plans to meet with President Bush in conjunction with the February 2008 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. Ye said he hopes President Bush will not meet with Yu Jie, because Yu is not a true religious figure and does not represent Chinese Christians. Ye said China Christian Council leaders are concerned that a meeting with Yu Jia will "harm President Bush's image," since Yu Jie has "done many bad things" including causing trouble at Beijing University and may "say bad things about China." "How can Yu Jie, a recent convert to Christianity, represent Chinese Christians?" Ye asked. There are other persons who are more important leaders than Yu Jie with whom the President could meet, Minister Ye said. The Ambassador reminded Minister Ye that President Bush met previously with Yu Jie in 2005 and told Minister Ye that the President will decide whether to meet with Yu Jie again. Minister Ye apologized for "having to raise" Yu Jie, acknowledging that this was "not very friendly," but said he hoped this "little matter" will not adversely impact "the larger relationship." Minister Ye to Lead Delegation to the United States After Chinese New Year -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Minister Ye confirmed that he will lead a twelve-person delegation to the United States after the Chinese New Year holiday. In Washington, D.C., Minister Ye will speak at Georgetown University, sign a cultural exchange agreement with the University and meet with U/S Dobriansky, Ambassador Hanford and other officials and leaders. Minister Ye, who claimed that he has been vilified in the United States through comparisons to gangsters in the television serious "The Sopranos," said the President of Georgetown University informed him that his visit is attracting significant attention. Minister Ye, with former State Council Information Minister Zhao Qizheng, will also visit New York City at the invitation of Christian evangelist Rev. Luis Palau for the launch of the English-language version of "A Friendly Dialogue Between an Atheist and a Christian," a book co-authored by Rev. Palau and former Minister Zhao. Ye said he supports the book, which resulting from private debates between Rev. Palau and Zhao on such questions as the existence of God, since "dialogue alone can bring us to the truth." Ye on Cardinal Zen; Church Registration -------------- ¶7. (C) Speaking privately, Minister Ye said he welcomes the news that the Vatican has appointed Bishop John Tong Hon to succeed Cardinal Zen as coadjutor bishop of Hong Kong. SARA, he said, would not comment officially on the appointment out of deference to the "one country, two systems" principle. However, Ye said he had met both with Cardinal Zen and with Bishop Hon, and that he found the latter to be "more reasonable and practical." In response to the Ambassador's inquiry about the obstacles Chinese Protestants face in registering places of worship, Ye stated that Christians in some places feel that registration is unnecessary because they "owe allegiance only to God." When the Ambassador pointed out that authorities in some areas prevent Christians from registering without cause, Minister Ye acknowledged that this is "against the law." SARA Protestant Affairs Division Director Wang Xiuling said she would be willing to look into any reports provided by the Embassy indicating that officials unlawfully prevent Christians from registering. RANDT