Document Type

Article

Disciplines

International Law

Abstract

The Western world has watched in amazement over the past decade as the number of religious practitioners has rapidly increased in the People's Republic of China. Although no solid census has been taken, it is estimated that there now are up to 70 million Protestants and 12 million Catholics in the PRC.' Approximately eight million Uighur Muslims live in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region,2 and most of the 2.6 million ethnic Tibetans continue to practice Tibetan Buddhism.3 In addition, many Chinese are now involved in "fringe" religions such as Falun Gong.

This growth and persistence of religion has alarmed Chinese government officials, who fear that religious practices might threaten their authority. In response, the Chinese Communist Party ("CCP") has attempted to "crack down" on practices that appear to encourage revolt or divisions or undermine CCP leadership. Because of China's strategic and economic importance, large population, and ability to influence Asian countries and the Third World, Western countries have taken special note of religious persecution in China and other human rights violations. U.S. leaders and experts in particular have recently expressed outrage over the religious suppression, with an emphasis on persecution against Chinese Christians.

The United States and other Western countries have taken different steps to convince Chinese officials to lessen the religious persecution and restrictions. The U.S. government recently passed legislation that publicly denounces religious persecution- and states that U.S. security and development assistance will be steered away from those countries that fail to protect the religious freedom of its citizens.' The United States has also been producing reports that document the various forms of persecution in China,6 and has held regular hearings to discuss employing alternate measures.' Unfortunately, these measures have not yet resulted in much visible change.

Should the United States concern itself with internal Chinese religious persecution, and if so, which methods would be most influential? How can the United States combine efforts with other countries to apply maximum pressure and influence? To answer these questions, I will first discuss Chinese views and actions from an historical perspective, showing the reasons why the Chinese government has rejected many religious practices. I will also investigate the current situation of religious persecution in China, and the slow changes that are being made. Finally, I will discuss the current means the United States and other Western countries utilize to exert influence on China, as well as alternate and potentially more effective means of securing religious freedoms for Chinese citizens.

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