Tiananmen Then and Now

At least once a year in this blog, and often several times, I write about China and our relationship as a democracy with this global power with an expanding reach. I began my Lion Lamb blog in 2006 but I know I spoke about this from the pulpit in the 1980's and 1990's when Brian Mulroney and Jean Chretien were Prime Ministers. I had held what was really an unwarranted positive outlook on China because of an opening to the West after decades of an oppressive communist regime under Mao.  My travel agent mother took several groups to China with family friend Dr. Bob McClure, a medical missionary to China in the 30's and 40's and eventual Moderator of the United Church.

Then the Tiananmen Square student protests took place at this time 30 years ago, culminating in the violent crushing of this public display of opposition to the government. Many of us will recall the photos and film footage of one of those protestors standing in front of a tank on this vast public square. To this day the Chinese government insists that no one died in the crackdown but human rights agencies and those who survived claim that hundreds and probably thousands were killed, many more injured, and others incarcerated.

Recently I heard an expert offer that this was a turning point for the Chinese government when it came to freedom of expression and human rights in the country, a movement backward toward oppression. It's probably accurate and, sadly, Western governments have turned a blind eye when it comes to human rights violations in favour of developing trade with a superpower.



Chinese church being destroyed

This is a deal with the devil, especially since we know beyond a doubt that religious freedoms have been curtailed. The more than 30 million Christians do gather for worship but must observe certain restrictions or buildings are demolished and leaders jailed. An estimated 1.5 million Muslims are detained in prison camps, or about one in six.

There is little room for public dissent, so even internationally recognized scholars and researchers and artists are harassed and jailed for speaking out again the current regime. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo was imprisoned for years and outspoken artist Ai Weiwei has been arrested while some of his assistants have disappeared.

As Christians it's important to pray for sisters and brothers in Christ who live under threat in China. We must be concerned for all those who desire freedom and have suffered because of religious convictions or having the courage to speak honestly.

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Ai Weiwei