Pastor Ezra Jin, recently freed from a Chinese prison, advocates for religious freedom in China. Jin was detained due to his role as pastor of Zion Church, an independent Christian house church in Beijing, operating outside Chinese Communist Party (CCP) control.
In China, religious groups face CCP control or encounter harassment and detention. Documented cases include forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, a spiritual movement targeted by the CCP. A photo from August 4, 2018, shows Pastor Jin leading a Christian beliefs class at Zion Church.
‘A China without religious freedom is a China we cannot accept,’ Pastor Jin said after gaining his freedom, which followed President Trump’s intervention at the May summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Detained religious figures encompass ten Chinese Catholic bishops, and Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, recently convicted due to charity fund registration issues. Zen, aged 94, opposes the Vatican’s secret deal with Beijing concerning bishop appointments in China.
The CCP’s laws, such as its ‘Unity’ law, transform internal repression into global threats. Prominent figures like the Panchen Lama of Tibetan Buddhism have faced abductions, highlighting religious groups’ vulnerability.
The CCP’s religious control clashes with the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and beliefs in individual freedom to determine spiritual destiny. This system doesn’t align with ideals of economic collaboration with China.
Beijing’s oppression extends globally through harassment, disinformation, and oppressive tactics against dissidents. Falun Gong practitioners alone endured nearly 300 bomb and death threats, with over 5,000 recorded deaths since crackdowns began in 1999.
Recent interventions include monitoring dissidents using intelligence platforms like Anthropic’s Claude AI. These actions reflect exploitation of American resources by Beijing to suppress dissidents who sought refuge.
Xi’s upcoming visit to Washington starting September 24 presents an opportunity for President Trump to address religious oppression issues highlighted by these dissidents. Ties with countries that deny freedom of worship should be reconsidered.
Communist governments deny God’s existence, asserting government authority over spiritual matters and claiming that rights derive from government, not from any divine source.
History shows religious individuals resist government when it’s at fault. Their allegiance to higher values costs them property, freedom, or even life. Advocacy for these individuals aligns with historical figures like Jewish refuseniks and evangelicals confronting oppressive regimes.
Trump, applauded for confronting China, should continue leveraging influence to support citizens refusing CCP faith imposition. Comparing CCP to the Soviet regime Reagan faced, the current situation demands addressing religious oppression.
Americans stand against harassment that crosses borders, challenging attempts to suppress faith and freedom. President Trump ought to make this stance clear upon Xi’s visit.
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