The last two years have been a downward spiral for China’s freedom of religion and freedom of speech. In recent years, BTJ has documented thousands of crosses torn down, hundreds of churches destroyed, and countless Christians arrested.

Freedom of religion is not getting better in China. It is demonstrably getting worse.

Freedom of speech has also seen better days in China. We saw that common citizens who shared about the coronavirus in Wuhan, quickly disappeared. Dr. WenLiang Li (李文亮) was arrested, tortured, and forced to sign a confession after he shared about the coronavirus on social media. Dr. Wen died weeks later after contracting the virus that he warned others about.

Independent reporting in China is banned. China’s punishment of independent reporting led to a much slower understanding and awareness of the coronavirus; the virus has now spread from Wuhan to the rest of the world.

So, it seems a little frightening when the United Nations appoints China to the Human Rights Council Panel to oversee human rights for the entire world. China will monitor and report on freedom of speech, freedom of press, health, arbitrary detention, and persecution against Christians.

China will also choose the individuals who will be sent to investigate nations and report on those that violate religious freedom.

In it’s new position at the UNHRC, China will lead the discussion on human rights, shaping the international policy standard on religious freedom.

Two days ago, the USCIRF released it’s annual report on religious freedom. The report detailed four pages of China’s human rights abuses. The official government report concluded, “There is no question that China is the world’s foremost violator of human rights and religious freedom. It cannot be compared to any other country in the world not only because of its inexcusable actions, but because of the way it aids and abets similar actions by other countries all around the world. Meanwhile, the international order, in pursuit of self-interest, continues to let China play by its own rules, and especially at the United Nations. This is absolutely inexcusable, and those nations around the world who ignore China’s malevolence may eventually find themselves subservient to it.”

Please continue to pray for the Christians in China and the Christians in the 10/40 window, who are persecuted daily for their faith in Jesus Christ.