Michael W. Moyles

Religious persecution is a topic of common debate and relatively frequent media exposure. However, it normally applies to Jews, Muslims, or extremist religious groups. Rarely is this persecution directed against the Protestants and Catholics that seem so openly embraced by so many countries – or so the media will have you believe. In reality, more Christians have been persecuted for their faith in the twentieth century than in the previous nineteen combined. Human rights violations against the Christians are a rampant yet sparsely reported travesty that must be brought into the international spotlight before it can be effectively addressed, and perhaps no country is more guilty of this crime than the People’s Republic of China.

China has a long history of human rights violations, stemming from its Communist roots and its reluctance to permit freedom of expression. These violations have worsened throughout the past fifteen years, culminating with the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989 and continuing with the ongoing religious persecution. The escalating growth of Christianity in China in the early 1990s resulted in a government crackdown in 1994 that has significantly worsened the situation of the Christians in the country. Although there are limited economic and social issues involved in this persecution, this analysis focuses primarily on the political aspects, both within China and in the overall international scene.

Freedom of religion is a constitutionally protected right in the People’s Republic of China. Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution (1982) states that:

Don’t be deceived. In reality, the practice of religion in China is severely restricted. The very next sentence states that "The state protects normal religious activities," but fails to define "normal" – as a result, the state frequently imprisons, brutalizes, and persecutes citizens of all religious faiths, especially the Christians. This caveat ("normal") allows the government to legally arrest, prosecute, and punish any religious gathering or affiliation that is not officially condoned and recognized by the state.

There are only five religious affiliations that are recognized by the Chinese Communist Party. These are Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Taoism, and Islam, and each is closely monitored by a government-controlled oversight authority. The primary responsibility of these organizations, known as "patriotic associations", is to ensure that religious beliefs and gatherings do not, in any way, subvert or contradict the teachings of the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These associations are subsequently responsible to the Chinese Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB), the supreme religious authority in the country. The Christian branches of this political overseer are the Catholic Patriotic Association and the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement, both tightly controlled and monitored by the RAB. These patriotic associations have the ultimate power to dictate the location, membership, length, and nature of worship services, and furthermore have the authority to dismantle churches (usually accompanied by the arrest and punishment of hierarchy) that do not conform to the state-mandated worship regimen. Members of the associations are almost always both government employees and members of the Chinese Communist Party, thereby ensuring that any religious activity that falls under their jurisdiction conforms to communist belief and Chinese political control. Unfortunately for Christians, any ideology other than communism and any authority other than the Chinese government is viewed as a threat to national security, and therefore illegal.

All churches, regardless of affiliation, must register with their respective patriotic association. Any unregistered religious activity is illegal and is a punishable offense. Registration is based on the "Three-Self Policy", requiring any church seeking approval to have three things: a professional religious leader (who must be approved by the relevant patriotic association), a fixed meeting point, and activities confined to a specific geographic area. This registration policy severely restricts the abilities of a congregation to participate in some of the core aspects of common Christianity, including evangelism, testimony, and mission work. It also completely separates Chinese Catholics from the Vatican and the Pope – in fact, the Chinese Catholic Association does not recognize the authority of the Pope, and consecrates its own bishops. Attempts to establish a connection with the traditional Roman Catholic Church have been met with more than a little resistance – when a group of Vatican-loyal Bishops formed their own conference in 1989, they were immediately harassed and detained, some for periods of years. Even now, nearly ten years later, many are still in confinement.

This unjustified imprisonment is a very common yet shockingly mild form of persecution. The International Bulletin of Missionary Research estimates that 160,000 Christians in China lost their lives because of their religious beliefs in 1997 alone. This is nearly five times the number of Americans killed during the Vietnam War, yet international response has been a combination of ignorance and indifference. In addition to these deaths, organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Christian Science Monitor International have documented hundreds of cases of illegal detainment, torture, and destruction of entire villages, all based purely on religious belief.

For example, Guo Bole, a 58-year-old priest, was abducted from his home in Shanghai by security police in November 1995, shortly after holding a Catholic Mass for approximately 250 people. Three months later, he was sentenced to two years of "reeducation through labor", a punishment imposed without trail. This legal aspect – that Chinese law permits the judiciary to sentence citizens to up to three years in labor camps without a trial – is one that has previously received harsh international criticism, but the punishment is still frequently used. In Bole’s case, he was accused of "disturbing social order" and "conducting illegal religious activities" to include allegations that he "…conducted evangelical work, offered Masses, administered Sacrament, and supported the Roman Pontiff". Bole spent two years in a Chinese metal-ore mine without ever being charged with a crime.

In another case, the much-feared Chinese Public Security Bureau (PSB) discovered a group of unregistered Christians just before Christmas 1996. Although possession of a Bible is not a criminal offense, possession of imported Bibles is illegal – which is precisely what the PSB found. The Christians were then severely beaten, including torture by stomping on their heels while kneeling. Many of these Christians can no longer walk without the assistance of crutches or canes.

These are simply two examples of literally hundreds of cases that are documented every year. In most cases, the only "crimes" committed are owning a Bible, conducting a prayer meeting, or leading a Bible study. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution on the horizon. The combination of the continuing growth of the Christian church and the decreasing popularity of the Chinese Communist Party results in an increase of nervousness throughout the Chinese government. This unease has the unfortunate effect of increased government pressure on the Christians, and therefore increased persecution. This brutal persecution results in a widespread reluctance to register (see Figure 1 below), during which citizens are required to disclose

Unregistered Christians are not the only ones subject to this persecution. Even registered churches have often experienced persecution, simply based upon the fact that they are part of a religious order that is thought to be "incompatible" with Communist belief. This same sentiment has carried over to actually become standard Chinese governmental policy. In November 1996, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army issued a special report on "spiritual civilization", stating that, "It is necessary to conduct education in atheism so that they [the military] believe in science and oppose superstition. Participation in religious activities is forbidden." Three months later, the CCP issued a circular that actually ordered all Communist Party members not to adhere to any religious beliefs. These are very bold decrees for a country that claims that freedom of religion is "guaranteed" by its Constitution.

This widespread persecution, which has been extensively documented in China since the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), is only just beginning to fall under the international spotlight. In January 1997, a United States delegation led by Secretary of State Warren Christopher visited China, during which they "…underscored the importance …of fundamental freedoms…and specifically expressed concern about the persecution of Christians in China." Secretary Christopher very specifically stated that improved relations between the United States and China are directly dependent upon "significant progress in China’s human rights situation." Shortly thereafter, the United States Congress ordered the State Department to produce a report on religious freedom worldwide, with specific emphasis on China. The report directly accused China of religious persecution, including "beatings and raids on private homes to suppress unauthorized religious groups." It also accused China of violating its own constitutionally guaranteed right to religious freedom, specifically by closing hundreds of Christian churches and detaining its members because they failed to register. This same report also accused China of "numerous human rights abuses…including torture, mistreatment, forced confession, and arbitrary arrest."

This report is very unique in the United States, where separation between church and state is so highly guarded – it is rare to find Congress specifically ordering the Department of State to conduct a study on the persecution of Christians worldwide. If nothing else, it speaks to the severity of the situation. Assistant Secretary of State John Shattuck summarized the United States’ position by saying, "The issue of persecution is a serious one affecting many religions. The issue has not previously received much attention with respect to Christians, and the focal point of this report, at the request of Congress, is that subject."

On the international scale, the United Nations Human Rights Commission issued a resolution in April 1997 that specifically focused on China’s human rights violations – including the issue of religious freedom. Most recently, in September 1998 the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, visited China at the invitation of the Chinese government. Her visit was not specifically focused on religious persecution, however, she did severely criticize the Chinese government for its re-education through labor program and the reported abduction and confinement of at least two political activists.

In short, the United States and the international community are slowly waking up to the atrocities that are occurring daily in China. However, both the United States and the United Nations have taken no direct action against the People’s Republic, despite numerous reports and widely recognized recurring human rights abuses. On the contrary, China’s Most Favored Nation status was recently extended, giving it significant trade and tax advantages in the international arena.

There are a number of actions that China must take to honor its Constitution and address its blatant violations of human rights. First, it must release those currently imprisoned for what the government calls "illegal religious activity." The entire practice of distinguishing between "normal" and "abnormal" religious practice should be removed from the Constitution entirely, as should the judicial distinction between "legal" and "illegal" religions or churches. Second, the mechanism of registration must be removed to allow all people to practice any religion when, where, and how they choose. Included in this action should be the breakup of the Religious Affairs Bureau and the "political associations" that govern each denomination. Third, members of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese military (People’s Liberation Army) must be allowed to practice religion – at the very least, be allowed to practice under "registered" churches like any other citizen. Fourth, the Chinese judiciary must take action to investigate and prosecute those who are suspected of beating, torturing, and detaining citizens engaging in religious activity. In reality, Chinese Criminal Law states that government employees who deprive citizens of the right to free religious expression may be tried and sentenced to up to two years in prison. However, there is no recorded case, in either Chinese or international records, of anyone ever being punished under this law. Finally, the "Re-Education Through Labor" program must be abolished entirely. The very nature of punishment without conviction or even a trial is contradictory to the fabric of free expression and belief.

Identifying the actions that China must take is comparatively simple – getting the country to take those actions is not, by any means, a simple process. Human rights violations have been rampant throughout Chinese history, and their response to external pressures has been minimal. Military intervention, either on the part of the United States or the United Nations, is probably not a viable option, given the sheer size of the country and the size of its military. It is doubtful that China would respond to either the threat of military action or to select military strikes (like those used against Iraq).

In order for the international community to effectively address the continued human rights violations in China, this persecution must receive international notice and visibility. If foreign countries are unaware of the problem, they will certainly be reluctant to take any action against it. This is a case, like Rwanda in 1994, where a lack of information about the situation directly results in a lack of knowledge and a subsequent lack of action. In addition to increased awareness, economic and political sanctions may be the only way to get a message through to the Chinese government. These sanctions must come from a united international front, not simply the United States or a select few members of the United Nations. China has far too many internal resources and access to multiple sources of external resources to feel the affects of one or two countries withdrawing support. These international actions could even go so far as to threaten the Chinese position as a Most Favored Nation in the United States, and a permanent member of the Security Council in the United Nations. These are drastic measures, to be sure, but they may be the only way to get through to the Chinese government.

The outlook for the future of this continued Christian persecution is not a positive one. Two things seem almost certain at this point: Christianity will continue to grow in China, and the government will continue to suppress it as much as possible. The international community does not have the awareness to effectively address this problem, and even if it did, it is nearly powerless to have any near-term impact on China. The only affect international collective action may have is in the realm of political and/or economic sanctions, which may not be felt in China for many years to come. Christians continue to be beaten, tortured, and illegally imprisoned throughout the country, and China continues to shine as a Most Favored Nation and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. These two facts should not – and must not – coexist. However, until the world wakes up to the injustices that take place daily in China, its constitutionally guaranteed "freedom of religion" will be nothing more than a myth.

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