From the New York Times:

With his charisma, erudition and dedication to human rights, Cardinal Zen has become a celebrity here, a man wielding considerable political influence as well as religious power. But his high profile and growing influence have antagonized senior officials in mainland China, particularly those who oversee the state-controlled church.

His elevation to cardinal in February was called “a hostile act” by Liu Bainian, the general secretary of the state-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. Chinese officials routinely blame Cardinal Zen for their troubled relations with the Vatican, notably when China pushed through the consecration of two bishops this spring without the approval of the Holy See. [Full text]