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How then should we keep human rights on the agenda? The House version of the China trade bill creates a new commission that will monitor China's abuses, keeping a list of victims and reporting annually to the House. This effort, though modest, would be helped by a clearer focus on repression of religious freedom and other basic rights. Fresher carrots and sharper sticks are also needed. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has identified five standards by which to measure human-rights improvements, including immediate release from prison of anyone confined for religious reasons. Congress should embrace those five standards and use them to evaluate the success of the current trade policies. China's 25 provinces compete vigorously with each other for foreign investment. Christians in the business community should urge an investment strategy (like the Sullivan Principles, which were used against South African apartheid) that rewards provincial governments that have openly improved human rights.Anthropologists have observed that Western culture has a guilt-justice disposition. In Eastern cultures, shame and honor are long-standing cultural sentiments. We have tried unsuccessfully to shame China's government into justice. But justice in China may only take root fully when consciences are pricked by the gospel's transforming power.

See today's related news story, "Freer Trade, Freer Faith? | The unexpected support of house-church leaders helps turn the tide in the China trade debate, but Christians remain divided." The article includes many links to Christians on both sides of the debate over Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China.Past Christianity Today opinion pieces on China trade include:Do We Love Coke More Than Justice? | Will we continue giving aid to nations that burn churches, jail pastors, torture religious believers? By Charles Colson & Nancy Pearcey (Mar. 2, 1998)How to Pressure China | The Christian's ultimate loyalty is a threat to any authoritarian regime. By Diane Knippers (July 14, 1997)

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July 10 2000, Vol. 44, No. 8