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Chinese reaction to Bush's speech varied. The Washington Post reported that while the speech resonated with some Chinese in attendance, others didn't feel there was a problem to address.

"I really supported his religious views," an attendee of the speech told the paper. "I am a Christian myself. But, you know, a lot of people go to church here with no interference from the government. The government doesn't oppose religions, but it doesn't encourage them either."

Others in attendance felt Bush's religious content was preachy and pandering. One graduate student told The Washington Post that "he just kept talking and talking about freedom. We get it. Does he think we're stupid?"

Chinese citizens who did not see the speech live on television or in person may not hear Bush's religious message at all. The Los Angeles Times reports that Bush's references to religion were immediately censored out of print transcripts of the live broadcast.

"Before the U.S. leader had even boarded Air Force One, China's state-controlled media put out their version of the morning address," the paper reported Saturday. "Almost half the speech—large chunks extolling American liberty and urging China to relax its political and religious restrictions—was simply hacked out in the transcript released by the official New China News Agency."

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a press release Monday commending Bush on his up-front approach. Although disturbed that the speech text was censored, the commission was encouraged that the speech was carried live to the Chinese people.

"President Bush told the Chinese people the truth," said Felice Gaer of the Commission's executive committee. "The Chinese people need to know that America's interest in religious freedom and other human rights is part of who we are as a people."

Todd Hertz is Assistant Online Editor for Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Christianity Today's exclusive March cover package examines the secret documentation of China's religious persecution:

'New' China: Same Old Tricks | Top communists, despite their denials, endorse arrest and torture of Chinese Christians by the thousands.

The Unlikely Activist | How a bitter athiest helped besieged Christians—and became a believer.

What China's Secret Documents Reveal | The New York archive of religious persecution in China contains numerous government documents that show how the government controls religion.

China Persecution Dossier: Zhang Wu-Ji | Tortured to the point of death.

China Persecution Dossier: Shi Yun-Chao | Beaten for Hosting Bible Studies.

China Persecution Dossier: Gu Xiangmei | Surviving on "tiger's diarrhea."

Related coverage of Bush's visit to China includes:

Jiang hails Bush visit — AFP (Feb.23, 2002)

Bush touts U.S. Values to Chinese — The Washington Post (Feb. 22, 2002)

Bush urges China on religious freedom — Associated Press (Feb. 22, 2002)

Bush preaches democracy to China — BBC (Feb.22, 2002)

Bush urges freedom of worship in China — The New York Times (Feb. 22, 2002)

Bush urges Jiang to respect religion — Associated Press (Feb.22, 2002)

Jiang: China has freedom of religion — Associated Press (Feb.22, 2002)

Condoleezza Rice says China needs to release detained clergy — AFP (Feb.22, 2002)

Supporters of detainees appeal to Bush — Associated Press (Feb.22, 2002)

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February (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46