China is strongly opposed to a joint resolution of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate on the issue of Falun Gong, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said in Beijing.

Asked to comment on the joint resolution, which was passed by the House Thursday, Sun said abundant evidence proves that Falun Gong is neither a religious organization nor a group that merely practices qigong, but a cult that harms the Chinese society and people.

He said that it would not be difficult for any open-minded people to understand the true nature of the Falun Gong cult.

However, a handful of members of the U.S. House of Representatives manipulated the passing of the resolution bill with only seven or eight members present for the vote before the House adjourned, he noted.

The spokesman said the resolution, which makes groundless accusations and viciously attacks the Chinese government's lawful handling of the cult, has grossly infringed upon China's internal affairs.

China strongly urges those House members to respect the facts, refrain from employing double standards when it comes to cults, and stop intervening in China's domestic affairs under the pretext of the Falun Gong issue, Sun said.