The Fight for Religious and Political Freedom in China

Recently on The Cale Clarke Show, Cale welcomed David Mulroney, a former Canadian government representative who during his 32 years of service acted as Senior Representative in Taiwan, Foreign and Defense Policy Advisor to the prime minister, Director of the Afghanistan task force during the Kandahar operation, and Canadian Ambassador to China.

David, who has written a book about his experiences and Canadian-Chinese relations titled Middle Power, Middle Kingdom, discussed the fundamental differences between western and eastern culture and the fight for religious and political freedom that is still going on in China today.

“What do you think, David, that people in North America, in the United States and in Canada, need to know right now about China?” asked Cale. David responded by saying we should know that China is the most complicated partner that we’ve ever had. It has a quickly-growing economy that offers a myriad of business opportunities and prospects to North Americans, but it also poses a threat. China has a very different way of thinking from the democratic governments of its peers.

In fact, they often run contrary to the basic freedoms provided to other countries, and being given opportunities for commerce, trade, and expansion, they are capable of affecting or influencing other nations. There have been multiple instances of the rigging of foreign elections, the assault of “anti-China” candidates, and even cases where candidates would advocate for China because they stood to benefit from their stance.

David recalled the story of when the Canadian government was charged by the United States with extraditing the CFO of Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, for some form of corruption charges in her business dealings. The Chinese, who held Ms. Meng in high regard, arrested and held two Canadian citizens on made-up charges and treated them like prisoners of war. The implied message from China to Canada was that they better release Ms. Meng and never try something like this again.

In the ensuing dispute across the government over what should be done, some saying to hold her and some saying to release her, David said, “This is what it must feel like to be in a country just before it becomes a vassal state. There’s a kind of moral fatigue where ‘it’s just too darn hard to hold up our moral obligations.’” He was shocked at the way the Canadian government was so willing to fold when not a century earlier, Canada had played a pivotal role in World War II. They were not as prominent as they are today and yet they were the third army at D-Day, ready to give what they had.

Cale brought up the recent Winter Olympics and the phenomenon of the plummeting ratings in comparison to past years. He posited that it had far less to do with the time zones and the tape delay and more to do with the disapproval of the human rights violations and abuses that China is inflicting on those who practice religion, especially Uyghur Muslims who are currently being held in concentration camps. China throws its empiric weight around like the dynastic days of old, eviscerating the culture of Tibet, oppressing and suppressing Taiwan, and now enslaving the Xinjiang Muslims. The Chinese government has implemented 24/7 surveillance of the Uyghurs, forced abortion, forced contraception, and has even gone so far as to infiltrate individual families that may be lacking one or more parental figures.

David lamented the fact that nations, especially Canada, participated in the Winter Olympic Games, a silent and implicit acceptance of the Chinese abuses. He predicted that years from now, when all is said and done, we will look back on this and ask ourselves why we allowed it to happen. “In 20 or 30 years, we’ll look back and say, ‘I wonder why we did that. Maybe we didn’t know.’ We absolutely knew.”

Next time you offer prayers or mortifications this Lent, think of the oppressed people of China. Think of how much better and easier we have it and offer your sacrifice for their sake, praying for the resolution of their horrific situations.

Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China, who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love. May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus.

Our Lady of Sheshan, Pray for Us.

Listen to the full segment below:

Tyranny in China and Fight for Religious Freedom

Tune in to The Cale Clarke Show weekdays at 5pm CT

John Hanretty serves as a Digital Media Producer for Relevant Radio®. He is a graduate of the Gupta College of Business at the University of Dallas. Besides being passionate about writing, his hobbies include drawing and digital design. You can read more of his daily articles at relevantradio.com and on the Relevant Radio® app.