Falun Gong targeted abroad

While forging ahead with its attempt to eradicate the Falun Gong movement at home, China is taking its campaign against the spiritual group abroad.

Chinese diplomats are seeking to discredit the sect and undermine its image in the US, Australia and other countries by pressing public officials not to have dealings with the group or allow its participation in local activities.

Critics of the Beijing regime say Hong Kong authorities are caving in to the anti-Falun Gong campaign. They contend officials weakened the enclave's autonomy by barring about 100 Falun Gong practitioners from entering in early May during a visit by Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民).

Falun Gong remains legal in Hong Kong, under Western-style freedoms left behind by the British. But its active presence here has provoked much local friction as members lash out against China's suppression.

The conflict between China and the sect escalated last week over the deaths of some imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners at a labor camp in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang in June.

China's government is drawing criticism for its efforts to weaken Falun Gong overseas.

In the US, some mayors have complained that Chinese diplomats attempted to stop them from giving public recognition to Falun Gong.

Falun Gong members in Australia accuse the Chinese Embassy of spreading distorted information about the group and attempting to persuade Australian officials to ban its participation in local events such as village festivals.

Beijing's attempts to use diplomatic pressure to silence Falun Gong have enraged members and government officials in the US.

At least a dozen mayors from US cities have reported pressure from Chinese officials who often pointedly mention the importance of US-Chinese trade.

"The whole thing sounded like a propaganda pitch to me," said Tod Satterthwaite, mayor of Urbana, Illinois, who ignored the Chinese demands.

Others have yielded. In 1999, mayors in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Baltimore -- all important shipping centers -- revoked proclamations honoring Falun Gong.