The United States and a coalition of states will fight religious oppression around the world, the State Department announced February 5. In a speech delivered by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to a high-level group including foreign ministers of several states, China was singled out for its brutal treatment of religious dissidents. Pompeo revealed that China used diplomatic pressure to attempt to prevent some states from joining the group.
“We condemn the Chinese Communist Party’s hostility to all faiths. We know several of you courageously pushed back against Chinese pressure by agreeing to be part of this Alliance, and we thank you for that,” Pompeo said.