Bush calls for religious freedom in China

Posted: 12/02/05

Bush calls for religious freedom in China

By Jason Kane

Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)–Human rights activists praised President Bush's call for religious freedom during his recent visit to China, but they called the Communist government's apparent unwillingness to make concessions discouraging.

The topic came to the foreground during the president's diplomatic swing through East Asia. He visited Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and China, where his appeals for religious freedom were largely ignored by the Chinese government and press.

Nina Shea, director of the Washington-based Center for Religious Freedom, a division of the human rights organization Free-dom House, called China's indifference to the president's requests “disturbing.” She said the appeals haven't “done anything and, in fact, it's been repression as usual.”

A few weeks before the president's visit, the Chinese government sentenced a Beijing underground church leader to three years in prison for selling Bibles. Critics call the action a prime example of China's religious oppression, which they say has included beatings, imprisonment and torture of religious individuals and groups not registered with the government.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said U.S. officials complained “quite vociferously” about such repression in the weeks before Bush's visit.

In private meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Bush emphasized his belief that religious and political freedom “go hand in hand,” he told reporters.

“A society which will recognize religious freedom is a society which will recognize political freedoms as well,” Bush said. “And part of a system which recognizes the right of people to express themselves is a system which also recognizes the right of people to worship freely.”

The Bush administration named China a serious violator of religious freedom in its annual State Department report to Congress.

Michael Cromartie, chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said the president's actions in China were an “extremely positive” sign the Bush administration takes international religious freedom seriously. The commission, created by Congress, does not make policy but advises U.S. government officials.

“It cannot hurt that when the president of the United States meets with Chinese leaders, one of the first things he says is that people ought to be free to express their religion,” Cromartie said. “The president should be applauded for linking religious freedom to political freedom and human rights.”

Shea, a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said China's response makes it clear economic sanctions will be necessary to persuade Chinese officials to make constructive changes.

“Words, no matter how sternly delivered, are not going to make an impact,” Shea said. “That's very distressing for all of us.