(the following article was written on 28 December 2004)
   
   John Han
   
   In a recent discussion meeting held by NPC, William J Murray of Religious Freedom Coalition (RFC) condemned religious suppression in China and called for religious freedom [1]. Religious freedom is the most fundamental freedom in a society. Murray pointed out that persecutions of Christians and Falun Gong in China resemble Hitler’s concentration camp or Stalin’s Gulag.

   
   Several other events also happened in China recently. In a leaked document and comments [2], President Hu of China asked his subordinates to learn from Cuba and North Korea on how to control the ideological front. In his word, “Although North Korea has met temporary difficulties in its economy, its ideology has always been correct.” Earlier, Mr. Hu gave the outside world a progressive, practical image. But this document, if proven true, really shows that he is a closet orthodoxy Marxist. Another event is that Chinese secrete police took custody of several influential Chinese, including Liu Xiaobo, Yu Jie. They are intellectuals advocating either political reform or basic human rights. None of them is even close to instigating violence. They are the voice of conscience and reform in China, which I think is badly needed now.
   
   In a tone of the Cold War, Mr. Hu also argued [2] that multinational capitalists led by the US are the main reason for the collapse of the formal Soviet Union. He said that these capitalists started from exporting the ideology of freedom and the collapse of the formal Soviet Union was not due to Marxism planning economy but instead because it deviated from the correct road of Marxism. We beg to differ here. We want China to succeed economically. Unlike Karl Marx who thinks that the economical pie is fixed and classes must fight to death in order to be successful, we are disciples of Adam Smith. We believe that market economies can be win-win for all involved. In fact, Karl Marx would disagree with Mr. Hu since he believed that a good ideology like his leads to a productive economy. There has not been one successful Marxism economy in all Communist countries. So where does this economic theory comes from? Does Mr. Hu also have closet economists who are genius? Maybe we can have an academic conference on this topic. Although Marxism is evil, we do allow Marxian theories, especially his economic theory, to be studied and taught in American universities.
   
   Mr. Murray analyzed why US-based multinationals want to invest in China. Since democracy may bring chaos while an authoritarian regime like China provides relative stable environment for investment and manufacture. I agree with him partially, not completely since China has better infrastructure, Chinese are better educated, and so on. However, his point that we should not sacrifice moral values for cheap products is valid. My suggestion is that the Congress should pass new laws. (1) Make religious prosecutions as crimes against humanity. Chinese officials participate prosecutions against Falun Gong and Christians may face prison sentence if they travel to the US, or even to any country that has extradition treaties with the US. (2) Such officials may have assets in the US. These assets should be confiscated and used to reimburse family members who had been prosecuted. (3) Multinationals who are doing business in China should take the moral responsibility that prison labor is not used. (4) Ask Chinese government to disband an office known as 610 office and stop prosecuting Falun Gong and Christians. (5) Ask the United Nations also to introduce resolutions that religious prosecutions are crimes against humanity.
   
   We also call Chinese government stop harassing peaceful dissidents. I particular enjoy articles from Liu Xiaopo and Yu Jie. China needs more of them not fewer. Suppressing discussion will not help China’s future. On the contrary, it only hinders future progress. Without freedom of expression, how can we know which political and economical theories are correct?
   
   Another item high on Mr. Hu’s agenda is unification with Taiwan. As a Chinese from Mainland China, I would like to see unification. However, no one wants to live under tyranny of Communists. Why would anyone in Taiwan want to hand in its sovereignty to a totalitarian government? By the way, democracy takes root in Taiwan because Taiwan had a constitution incorporated with democratic principles. On the other hand, the PRC has a constitution that requires domination of Marxism, Chinese Communist Party, and socialism in China. I would say get rid of these items from the constitution. They are the first obstacle to unification. I cannot understand why some Chinese officials want to worship Karl Marx. To us Christians, he certainly goes to the hell. Why do you want to worship or follow someone who is hell bounded? Furthermore, if you want to go to the hell, it is your choice. You should not drag other Chinese and Taiwanese to go with you. In addition, Marx is a westerner and these officials often resort to nationalism. There is inconsistency here.
   
   1. http://www.rfcnet.org/news/default.asp?action=detail&article=271&category=
   2. http://www.open.com.hk/2003_12news1.htm