US Says China is a “country of particular concern”

By Corinne Dobinson / May 4, 2019;

Photo: uscirf.gov

China has been placed on a United States list of “countries of particular concern” (CPCs) in relation to its religious freedom record. The annual report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), published on April 29, 2019, includes China in the 16 countries that were designated.

The USCIRF website quotes Tenzin Dorjee, USCIRF Chair, as saying “Our goal is not only to call out the offenders, but to provide concrete actions for the US government to take in working with these countries to get off our lists”.

The report’s chapter on China provides key findings in support of the designation. These include the introduction of a new Regulations on Religious Affairs Policy in February 2018. This prohibited religious teachings that had not been previously authorised and forced religious groups to report their online activity. The report also claims the Chinese government continued to persecute all religious faiths “not only to diminish and erase the independent practice of religion, but also the cultural and linguistic heritage of religious and ethnic communities, particularly Tibetan Buddhists and Uighur Muslims”.

The USCIRF report states that the Chinese government uses, amongst other methods, technological surveillance to repress Tibetan Buddhists and that it had received information that 800,000 to two million Uighur and other Muslims were detained last summer. According to USCIRF, despite an agreement last year between the Vatican and the Chinese government allowing China some control in the appointment of bishops, repression of the Catholic Church increased and many churches were closed down. It is also reports that over 900 Falun Gong followers were arrested for distributing information and practising their faith.

The annual report cites recommendations made to the US Congress and Administration to address these issues. These include incorporating diplomatic and legislative measures in negotiations on trade, exports, business and programme funding,visa restrictions and co-ordinating with foreign governments on sanctions.

The purpose of the USCIRF is to identify countries that engage in or tolerate violations of religious freedom rights and to make policy recommendations to US Congress and the US Administration to address these issues.