; and (2) a particularly severe violation of religious freedom for purposes of applying section 212(a)(2)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(G) ) with respect to such official. (b) Department of State programming To promote religious freedom in the People’s Republic of China It is the policy of the United States— (1) that the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom should support efforts to protect and promote international religious freedom in the People's Republic of China; and (2) for programs of the Department of State to protect religious minorities in the People's Republic of China and combat transnational repression engaged in by the People's Republic of China. (c) Designation of the People’s Republic of China as a country of particular concern for religious freedom It is the policy of the United States to continue to designate the People's Republic of China as a country of particular concern for religious freedom under section 402(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 ( 22 U.S.C. 6442(b)(1)(A)(ii) ) as long as the Government of the People's Republic of China continues to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom (as defined in section 3 of such Act ( 22 U.S.C. 6402 )). 4. Sense of Congress regarding promotion of religious freedom in the People's Republic of China It is the sense of Congress that the United States should promote religious freedom in the People’s Republic of China by— (1) strengthening diplomacy relating to religious freedom on behalf of Christians and other religious minorities facing restrictions in the People's Republic of China, including through the widespread engagement of international partners to combat the violations against religious freedom committed by the Government of the People's Republic of China