Vatican City - The Vatican's top envoy for China says the time has come for the Holy See to get tough with Beijing and not compromise over religious freedom.
Cardinal Joseph Zen says relations are taking a "worrisome slide" and that a new phase in relations was necessary.
Zen says the Vatican shouldn't give too much importance to re-establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing because such a move could trick people into thinking there is religious freedom in China when there isn't.
Pope Benedict XVI has been reaching out to Beijing in hopes of reconciling the official, state-sanctioned church with the underground church that is loyal to Rome.
Zen spoke in an interview Tuesday with the Vatican-affiliated missionary news agency AsiaNews.