Crosswalk.com News Channel - As President Bush on Nov. 13 said he "welcomed" the unanimous decisions by trade ministers to admit both China and Taiwan into the World Trade Organization, a number of human rights leaders wondered, "What about China's dismal record on religious freedom?"
According to the most recent State Department report, released Oct. 26, religious persecution in China has worsened. In some areas, underground Protestant house churches were subject to more-frequent raids and persecution. Authorities cracked down on unregistered churches, and threatened extortion, detention and demolition of property.
The Chinese government tends to perceive unregulated religious gatherings or groups as "a potential challenge to its authority," said the State Department. During the period covered by this report, China also moved against houses of worship outside its control that grew "too large" or "espoused beliefs that it considered threatening to state security."
But Bush expressed confidence that its WTO entry will push China to liberalize its internal policies and not just bring it economic benefits, reported CNS News.
"WTO membership, for example, will require China to strengthen the rule of law and introduce certain civil reforms, such as the publication of rules. In the long run, an open, rules-based Chinese economy will be an important underpinning for Chinese democratic reforms," said Bush.
Randy Alcorn, the author of "Safely Home," a novel about the persecuted church in China, says, "This is similar to when Beijing was named host of the 2008 Olympics. Ethically speaking, both are poor decisions, but will put China under the greatest world scrutiny it's faced in modern times."
Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization devoted to helping the unreached, the unfed, the unclothed and the unborn - in addition to unsupported Christians who face persecution.
"Should a country that violates human rights in such dramatic ways be rewarded by the global community by being admitted to the WTO?" asks Alcorn. "No. It sends the message that human rights aren't a big deal. You can persecute people, imprison them for religious and political reasons, but we'll still respect you."
His concern, he says, is that the decision could give China the impression that their propaganda efforts are working. And, unfortunately, with some they are. "But since China is extraordinarily image-conscious, this may restrain the hand of persecution against believers and it will certainly result in the gospel being brought into China," Alcorn adds.
Gary Lane, a spokesman with Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), agrees that the decision of the International Olympic Committee allowing China to host the 2008 Olympics gives false legitimacy to the world champion of religious persecution.
"The IOC decision, followed by World Trade Organization membership, means that China has finally arrived as a primary player on the world scene," said Lane. "But Beijing falls far short when it comes to respecting the religious rights of its citizens - an international standard required of primary world powers."
Chinese Christians continue to suffer harassment, arrest, beatings and even torture for practicing their faith outside the official TSPM (Three-Self Patriotic Movement) church, according to VOM.
"One misconception about the Chinese house church movement is that this is just a small fanatical group of troublemakers who only meet in a neighborhood house," said Lane. "The truth is, the house church is a network of believers numbering in the millions - many of these 'illegal' networks are larger than most American denominations."
The Wenzhou Daily reported last December that during the period from mid-November to Dec. 5, 256 churches were destroyed, 153 banned and 19 confiscated in Ouhai District. Another 527 churches were destroyed, 35 banned, and 74 confiscated in Changnan County. And nine churches were banned in Taishun County.
Some world leaders may have forgotten the persecuted in China, said Lane. "We at VOM and millions of committed Christians in America have not and will continue to speak out on behalf of these Chinese champions for Christ."
According to Assist News Service (ANS), three Shanghai house church leaders confirmed that the entire population would be affected by the WTO decision. "China's leaders admit that although opening up internal markets to world competition will bring greater prosperity in the long term, in the next three to five years unemployment is expected to soar, since under the terms of the trade agreement China's government can no longer subsidize loss in heavy industrial and agricultural sectors," reported ANS.
Open Doors with Brother Andrew told ANS that China's acceptance into the WTO "brings the most significant challenges to China's 60-90 million Christians since Mao launched the Cultural Revolution in 1966."
Terry Madison, president and CEO of Open Doors USA, stated, "House church leaders are expecting a second boom in the revival in China, since there will be over 150 million internally displaced people leaving their homes, coming to cities and looking for work. These internal refugees will feel vulnerable and insecure, and they are incredibly open to the Gospel."
House church leaders are anticipating what they call "the growth challenge," and they are upbeat, according to ANS. One leader confirmed that his house church movement in the city had doubled in the last year. "We began to reach out to the migrant labor force flooding our city. ... If the whole house church movement gears up for this, we could see tens of millions coming to Christ very soon."