Long before America became what it is today, it served as a refuge for people of various faiths. The right to worship freely, to pray, to practice one’s religion without government interference—is perhaps the most basic freedom we possess. This essential liberty has significantly shaped our country’s role as a leader in the global community.
However, no country seems more eager to undermine U.S. standing and interests than China. As the United States works diligently to counteract the detrimental sway of the Chinese Communist Party across military, intelligence, and economic arenas, it cannot simply stand by while China openly conducts a targeted and violent campaign against religious freedom worldwide.
This month, we were confronted with the most extensive crackdown on Christians in China since 2018, with numerous pastors and leaders of Christian house churches detained on dubious charges of “conducting superstitious activities to undermine law enforcement.” Among them is Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, who has been a prominent figure in one of China’s underground churches since 2007. This is far from an isolated incident.
Back in 2014, Pastor Zhang Shaojie was sentenced to 12 years in prison for “gathering a crowd to disrupt public order” in central Henan province.
Then there’s Pastor Wang Yi of Early Rain Covenant Church, who received a nine-year sentence for “incitement to subvert state power” and “illegal business operations.” Wang Yi’s story exemplifies the danger faced by many religious figures.
Additionally, Pastor John Cao, an American from North Carolina, spent seven years in prison for organizing an illegal border crossing. Though he was released in September 2024, reports indicate that China is barring him from leaving the country.
The Chinese Communist Party has officially declared war on religious freedom. Under Article 300 of its Penal Code, individuals practicing religions not sanctioned by the state face severe penalties, including life imprisonment. Despite these oppressive laws, the CCP has launched calculated assaults against Protestant Christians, Tibetans, Uighur Muslims, and Catholics.
Religious minorities, particularly followers of Falun Gong and Uighurs, reportedly endure forced sterilizations, sexual violence, torture, and even slave labor. Places of worship have been shut down across the country, and there’s a concerted effort to erase sacred traditions from Chinese society.
This is what modern religious persecution looks like.
While the United States has condemned these actions, it now needs to reinforce its efforts in holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its violations of human rights.
Today marks the 27th anniversary of the international religious freedom law, affirming that religious liberty is a fundamental right acknowledged by international law.
Since 1999, the State Department has labeled China a violator of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act. Yet, the latest report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom urges that China be reclassified as a “country of particular concern” for its persistent and systemic violations. Both the State Department and this commission closely monitor and expose these issues globally, with China often leading the list of offenders.
It’s clear: the U.S. must take decisive action. I have reintroduced the Combating Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act to the Senate to ensure accountability for Chinese officials who have committed human rights abuses against religious minorities. Those responsible should face strict U.S. sanctions.
While sanctions can send a powerful message abroad, real change has to start at home. My legislation aims to bolster State Department efforts against religious persecution and strongly support Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s push to maintain China’s designation as a country of particular concern if these abuses continue.
The ongoing persecution in China is unacceptable and must be met with strong disapproval from the U.S. and ideally the global community. Though the U.S. can’t oversee every instance of religious freedom violation around the world, China’s efforts to expand its influence present a unique threat that undermines American interests.
At this moment, our government needs to take a proactive role in monitoring and addressing China’s persecution of Christians and other religious groups. We must act now to stop this systematic attack on religious freedom.
