The Department of State releases its yearly religious liberty report: China (with 85 quotes from Bitter Winter), Russia, Pakistan are severely criticized.
by Massimo Introvigne
There is a different administration from last year in Washington DC but the yearly survey of religious liberty produced by the U.S. Department of State in 2021 (covering events of 2020) is as strong as last year’s report, or stronger.
Secretary Blinken introduced the report on May 12 by singling out China as a country that “criminalizes religious expression” in general. Blinken did not avoid two politically significant definitions: “crimes against humanity” for how China treats religion, and “genocide” for what is being done to “Uyghurs and members of other religious and ethnic minority groups.”
The section on China is a 136-page book that comprehensively denounces how all religions are persecuted in China. Torture, the systematic use of rape, and extra-judicial killings are among the “crimes against humanity” vested on Uyghur and other Muslims, Tibetan, Mongolian, and other Buddhists, house church Christians, dissident Catholics, members of banned groups labeled as xie jiao (that the document correctly translates as “heterodox teachings,”) and pretty much everybody else who tries to practice a religion outside of the rigid control of the state and the Chinese Communist Party.
I am a product manager in a technology company. Besides my work, I pay close attention to spiritual and human rights issues. I am convinced that when the world learns to respect beliefs, we humans can be humble, the society can be safe, and peace and sustainability can truly happen. I would like to share a special and meaningful lesson that my shifu, i.e., my spiritual master, has continuously taught me in the past 25 years.
My shifu is the Zhang-men-ren (Grand Master) of Tai Ji Men, Dr. Hong Tao-Tze. As all countries are trying their best to preserve their cultural heritage, Dr. Hong has always focused on carrying forward an excellent culture and improving global citizens’ physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. The Taiwanese government allocates more than 20 billion NTD to the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annually. Taking 2020 as an example, the budgets of the two ministries exceeded 55.2 billion NTD. Under the leadership of Dr. Hong, Tai Ji Men has never accepted or requested donations. The shifu and the dizi (disciples) supported themselves to visit more than 100 countries and more than 300 cities, participating in over 3,000 local and international cultural performances and exchanges, and promoting citizen diplomacy. Last year, during the pandemic, we hosted more than 30 global virtual events, spreading the importance of a culture of conscience.
