Bush urges tolerance in China

SEOUL, South Korea -- President Bush urged Chinese President Jiang Zemin Wednesday to respect religious freedoms and consider the Vatican's plea to free Catholic bishops, sticking points in otherwise improving U.S.-Chinese relations. \nBush, beginning his two-day trip to Beijing, said he hoped that Jiang, "as a president of a great nation, would understand the important role of religion in an individual's life." \nHe planned to address U.S. troops in Seoul before leaving Korea. \nIn addition to human rights, Bush and Jiang are at odds over U.S. missile defense plans, the fate of Taiwan, nuclear proliferation, trade and the president's claim that North Korea, Iran and Iraq form "an axis of evil." \nYet their meetings are unlikely to be contentious, at least partly because of the new U.S.-China alliance against terrorism, according to White House aides and outside analysts. \n"The president will raise the tough issues of religious freedom and proliferation, but the Chinese right now are thoroughly occupied with economic and political transformations, and Bush is preoccupied with the war," said Sandy Berger, national security adviser in the Clinton White House. \n"They both want there to be calm water," he said. \nBush's visit comes on the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking trip by President Nixon -- a milestone that ended a two-decade estrangement. While Nixon opened the door to China, Bush hopes to use the war on terrorism to develop a mature relationship in which differences can be resolved amicably. \nOnly a few months ago, administration officials feared relations with the world's most populous country were headed in the other direction. They cited China's emergence as a power rivaling the U.S. in Asia, the diplomatic confrontation in April over a downed U.S. spy plane and Beijing's determination to unify Taiwan. \nBut as Bush makes his second visit to China in five months, both leaders see advantages in uniting against terrorism. \nThe United States benefits from China's intelligence information and acceptance of rapidly expanded U.S. action in Asia. And China is using the war to justify harsh treatment of separatist Muslims in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, also known as East Turkestan. \nBeijing links the group to Osama bin Laden. \nAt a news conference Wednesday, Bush said, "I can tell you that in my last visit with President Jiang I shared with him my faith. I talked to him on very personal terms about my Christian beliefs." \nHuman rights and religious freedom will be the focus of Bush's address Friday at a Chinese university, expected to be broadcast nationally. \nBush said he urged Jiang in October to honor the request of the Vatican "to be able to at least have dialogue about bishops that are interned there." The president said he would repeat the request Wednesday. \nChina has detained dozens of bishops and priests loyal to Pope John Paul II and is closely watching many more as part of its efforts to weaken the underground Roman Catholic Church, according to the Vatican. \nChina has a state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association that does not recognize papal authority. Millions of Chinese Catholics faithful to the Vatican worship in underground churches, where they risk arrest. Church leaders have sometimes been imprisoned for years. \nThe Catholic dispute is not the only difference over religion. China expelled 33 Americans who had been detained during a protest by foreign members of the Falun Gong meditation group. \nBush also said he will discuss the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader. \nWhile in Korea, Bush peered through binoculars into North Korea and heard stories of ax-wielding North Korean soldiers killing American troops in 1976. \n"No wonder I think they're evil," Bush said, shaking his head. \nIt was as close as he came to reviving his "axis of evil" comment that reverberated in several world capitals, including Beijing. \nChinese officials were alarmed by Bush's declaration, which fed their fears that the United States' surging military presence in Asia will not be temporary. Bush is expanding the anti-terror war to several Asian countries with terrorist cells, including the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia. \nAdding to the Chinese consternation is Bush's plan to build an anti-missile shield. The project could neutralize Beijing's modest nuclear force. \nAmong the other issues on the US-Chinese agenda: \n-- The sale of advanced missile and nuclear technology to nations like Iraq and Pakistan. \n-- Chinese worries that Bush will sell Taiwan advanced arms. \n-- The upcoming end of Jiang's term. Bush expects to meet briefly Friday with the front-runner to replace Jiang, 59-year-old Hu Jintao.