Pastor Ezra Jin, who was released from a Chinese prison after President Trump raised his case with President Xi at their May summit, joined a small group on Capitol Hill to urge the administration to make religious persecution a top agenda item when Xi arrives in Washington on Sept. 24.
Trump’s prior action saved a pastor
Jin, the former pastor of the Zion Church in Beijing – an independent house church operating outside the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) – was detained for his faith. After President Trump personally mentioned Jin’s situation to President Xi, the pastor was freed weeks later. The pastor’s testimony underscores the tangible impact of presidential diplomacy on believers behind the Iron Curtain.
Systemic repression of faith in China
The CCP demands that all religious groups submit to state control, subjecting those that refuse to harassment, arrest, closure or worse. Documented abuses include forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners, detention of ten Chinese Catholic bishops for refusing to follow the party line, and the abduction of the Panchen Lama, the second‑highest authority in Tibetan Buddhism, whose whereabouts remain unknown after a 31‑year disappearance.
These actions violate the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the biblical principle that every soul is free to determine its own eternal destiny. The administration’s stance that religious liberty is non‑negotiable aligns with the Constitution’s guarantee of free exercise of religion.
Transnational repression reaches the United States
Beyond its borders, the CCP is engaged in a campaign of harassment, disinformation and “lawfare” against dissidents living in the United States. Falun Gong practitioners have reported nearly 300 bomb and death threats, and Chinese intelligence agencies have used American technology to build surveillance dossiers on overseas believers, including Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong adherents and Uyghur Muslims.
Why the summit matters
President Trump’s administration has already taken a hard line on Beijing, imposing tariffs and confronting the regime’s allies in Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. Advocates argue that the upcoming meeting with President Xi offers a critical platform to demand an end to religious persecution and to warn that a nation that suppresses worship cannot be a reliable trading partner.
Critics who label the CCP’s ideology as “communism” often conflate the party’s atheistic doctrine with state‑run economies. While the CCP does deny the existence of God and places the government as the ultimate authority, the United States stands firm that rights flow from God‑given liberty, not from the state.
Faith leaders’ call to action
Pastor Jin and other faith‑based advocates urge President Trump to publicly address the CCP’s “unity” law and its broader campaign of religious oppression during the summit. They argue that a clear, principled stance will reinforce America’s commitment to religious freedom and send a message to believers worldwide that the United States will not stand idly by.
“When Xi visits, President Trump should make it unmistakably clear that the United States will not tolerate a regime that forces its citizens to choose between faith and freedom,” the group said. The appeal reflects a broader desire among American Christians to see the administration use its leverage to protect the unborn child’s spiritual rights abroad, just as it defends them at home.
Looking ahead
As the summit approaches, the administration’s foreign‑policy team is expected to prepare talking points that balance diplomatic engagement with firm advocacy for religious liberty. For many believers, the outcome could shape the future of countless Christians, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghur Muslims who continue to face persecution under Beijing’s authoritarian rule.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
