Published by: THE WORLD UYGHUR NETWORK NEWS October 7, 1997

Agence France-Presse, 10/03/97

Beijing has accused the US of harbouring ''dangerous ambitions'' by approving funds for Radio Free Asia and denying visas to Chinese officials involved in religious control.

''The United States is attempting to impose its values and so-called democracy on people in Asia,'' China Daily said in an editorial yesterday.

It said two bills approved by a House of Representatives panel were aimed at the ''compulsive sale of American values to China''.

The committee approved spending US$52 million (HK$402 million) for general operations for Radio Free Asia during over the next two years and US$17 million to beef up Voice of America broadcasting in China.

It also called for the two radio stations to develop a 24-hour service in Mandarin, Cantonese and Tibetan and to increase broadcasts in dialects spoken in Xinjiang and other regions.

''The dangerous ambitions of the United States to create troubles and instability in the countries it does not favour can be seen in the languages and regions selected by Radio Free Asia.

''The obsession with imposing Western human rights and democracy on China is nnot helpful for a healthy relationship between the countries,'' the paper said.

The second bill approved by the panel banned Chinese government officials involved in implementing policies persecuting religious minorities and officials of Chinese Government-sanctioned religious groups from visiting the US.

US government officials have warned the two bills, which still have to go through Congress, could hamper Sino-US ties ahead of this month's US state visit by President Jiang Zemin.