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CECC hearing: witnesses say CCP is waging a systematic campaign against religion, urge stronger U.S. action
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Summary
Witnesses and commissioners at the Congressional‑Executive Commission on China hearing described a sustained campaign by the Chinese Communist Party to control and suppress religious life in China and abroad, urging the U.S. to elevate religious freedom to a national‑security priority and use sanctions, diplomacy, and asylum protections.
The Congressional‑Executive Commission on China heard testimony that the Chinese Communist Party is carrying out a systematic campaign to subordinate religion to party ideology, with witnesses urging the United States to respond with concrete diplomatic and economic pressure.
In his opening, an unidentified commission member said, "The Chinese Communist Party, CCP, is waging a systematic campaign to bend every faith in China to party rule," and cited the CECC political‑prisoner database: "There are currently 1,647 documented religious case cases in the CECC's political prisoner database." The speaker framed repression as not only a human‑rights issue but a threat to the conscience and dignity of believers.
Ambassador Sam Brownback, a former U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom, urged a strategic shift: "China's at war with faith, and it's at war with us," he testified, recommending that the U.S. fold religious‑freedom objectives into national‑security planning, pursue targeted economic sanctions and coordinate with allies. Brownback urged meetings between U.S. leaders and exiled religious figures and proposed stronger pressure on Beijing over Tibet and other contested policies.
Other witnesses described similar trends across faiths. "China's Muslim communities are facing the most severe, widespread and systematically engineered crisis since 1949," Ismail Juma testified, detailing mosque demolition, forced conversions of sites, and restrictions on routine religious practices. Bu Chong Sering described tightened central control over Tibetan monasteries and efforts to control reincarnation decisions.
Several witnesses and commissioners urged the U.S. to use available tools — including the Global Magnitsky Act and provisions in the Tibetan Policy and Support Act — to sanction officials responsible for abuses. Commissioners asked administration officials to raise religious‑freedom concerns at high‑level meetings with China and to confirm a dedicated U.S. ambassador‑at‑large for international religious freedom.
The hearing record will remain open for an additional week and witnesses were asked to return written follow‑up answers within three weeks. Chairman Smith adjourned the hearing.
