The highly credible China Aid Association on July 10 posted a news release that reports:
According to reliable China Aid sources and collaborated reports by at least five different mission agencies, over 100 foreigners accused of being involved in illegal religious activities in China have been expelled or
deported this year between April and June. Sources inside the Chinese government informed CAA that the Chinese government launched a massive expulsion campaign of foreign Christians, encoded Typhoon No. 5, in February 2007.
This development is an ill omen for supporters of religious freedom inside China.
In recent years, China’s communist leaders have encouraged Westerners to come to China to teach English, work as university professors, and work in business. The government’s crackdowns on religion have focused on indigenous pastors, evangelists, and others who create faith-based organizations that are outside the government mechanisms of control, including the Three-Self movement for Protestants and the state-recognized Catholic church.
But according to CAA, even American teachers of English are at risk. Two instructors working in Tibet were kicked out.
CAA reports:
This is the largest expulsion of foreign missionaries since 1954 when the Chinese Communist government expelled all foreign religious workers after taking power in 1949.
My hypothesis is that China’s government needs to be watched for what it does, not what is says – especially when it comes to management of religion.
Are China’s leaders worried about religious protests during the 2008 Olympics, or what?
