The Chinese government yesterday offered to establish diplomatic ties with Rome, but only if the Vatican first withdrew its official recognition of Taiwan.
At the same time, Beijing denied allegations by the US State Department that it was persecuting Christians. In a major policy statement issued before President Jiang Zemin's visit to the US later this month, the State Council attacked the Catholic Church's "inglorious role" in China.
Even if the Vatican broke with Taiwan, China said its state-backed Catholic Church, under the umbrella Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, would remain independent of Rome.
"The Vatican must not interfere in China's internal affairs on the pretext of religious affairs," said the State Council in a White Paper. "The Chinese Government will, as always, support Chinese Catholicism which holds aloft the banner of patriotism, sticks to the principle of independence and self-management, and stands for selection and ordination of bishops by itself."
Bishops may only be elected by the state-backed church with Beijing's approval. The 70 "official" bishops in China are not recognised by the Vatican. Catholics in China are split between the official body and the underground church which also has about 70 bishops, secretly approved by Rome. Those who organise openly risk imprisonment.
Protestants may officially worship only in government-sanctioned "three-selves" churches, self-established, self-supporting and self-proselytising.
Rome backed the puppet Japanese state of Manchukuo in northeastern China in the 1930s and opposed the communist revolution. "And after the founding of New China in 1949, the Vatican issued Papal encyclicals several times instigating hatred against the new people's political power among the converts."
The US said China closed down hundreds of "house churches" this year. The White Paper replied that homes of believers could be used for religious activities. However, some unregistered groups used religion to "overthrow the government, kill and maim and spread promiscuity".
Freedom of religion will be on the agenda both of the US-China summit and of dozens of protest groups planning to greet President Jiang when he arrives in the US on October 26th.