At 3pm on 21 May 2020 (Ascension Day) the skies over Beijing became exceptionally dark and 45 minutes later a lightning storm broke out across the capital city.1,2 On that day, at the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) National Congress annual meeting, plans furthering the persecution of the underground Church were formulated, as well as plans to superimpose a new National Security Law (NSL) against Hong Kong curtailing the freedoms of its citizens. To date, the detail of those plans against the Church remain undisclosed.
The NSL became law on Wednesday 1 July 2020. The 66 articles in the legislation were kept secret until then. It introduces long or life sentences for vaguely defined national security crimes which curtail civil and political freedoms (i.e. freedom of speech and to protest) and forbids actions deemed to criticise the CCP, including “collusion” with foreign governments. The CCP has the right to interpret and administer the law and a £100,000 bounty is offered to those who give up “law-breakers”.3 Within hours, the 300 protesters daring to demonstrate against the new law were arrested.
This action is in direct opposition to the legally binding treaty signed between Britain and China underpinning the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997. In the treaty China agreed that Hong Kong would enjoy a “high degree of autonomy” and that its social and economic systems and lifestyle would remain unchanged for 50 years (until 2047).4 This is often referred to as “one country, two systems”, though that phrase is not in the treaty.
This unexpected move will have a devastating effect on the way of life and the people of Hong Kong (effectively turning it into a regular mainland China city). It has prompted cries for help from its people. A letter from Hong Kong businessman Elmer Yuan to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, pleading for help, especially for the youth, captures the urgency of the situation.
The NSL will have a devastating effect on the way of life and the people of Hong Kong, effectively turning it into a regular mainland China city.
Well-founded Fears
Their fears are not without foundation. In June 2019 peaceful protests started when a law allowing extradition to China was proposed. These pro-democracy protests have been led by Joshua Wong, who is a Christian. Many of the protesters were also Christians, wearing t-shirts emblazoned with ‘God save Hong Kong’. The hymn ‘Sing Hallelujah to the Lord’ was heard in the streets of Hong Kong for weeks.5
Protestors were met with violent backlash by authorities, including the use of teargas (raising concerns about dioxin poisoning) and reports of sexual violence.6 By the time the proposed bill was withdrawn in September, thousands of protesters had been arrested and/or injured. Of the 8,971 people arrested, 1,547 are facing prosecution and are awaiting trial and 5,724 are on bail and under investigation.7
The NSL restricts liberties to a greater degree than the extradition bill, which was ostensibly withdrawn. The Times reported that Mr Wong wrote that Hong Kong was entering a terrifying new era “with arbitrary prosecutions, black jails, secret trials, forced confessions, media clampdowns and political censorship”.8
Communism Replaces God
It was reported that “Beijing has said Hong Kong should respect and protect rights and liberties while safeguarding national security”,9 but the CCP has a well-trodden track record of ignoring human rights in favour of state control.
Chairman Mao Zedong’s Communist Marxism saw at least 45 million Chinese people worked, starved, or beaten to death from 1958-1962.10 In 1989, an estimated 10,000 people, including many students, were killed when the army gunned down and then ran over protestors who were demonstrating against Government corruption, and for freedom of speech.11 More recently we have heard about the one to two million Uighur Muslims incarcerated in ‘re-education camps’ against their will.
There have been many other atrocities, some of which, I have no doubt, we will never hear about. During the course of 2018, China banned the sale of the Bible and published a new version revised by the CCP. President Xi Jinping also banned the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” and removed it from Scripture in China.12 All churches are now obligated to teach the carefully defined ‘core socialist values’ doctrine.13 Open Doors reported that in 2019 over 5,500 churches were destroyed or closed down.14 The destruction continues in 2020.15
One preacher explained that “The Communist Party’s ultimate goal is to become God.” Quotes from President Xi’s speeches now replace the Ten Commandments that once adorned the walls of many churches, alongside pictures of him and Chairman Mao.16
Quotes from President Xi’s speeches now replace the Ten Commandments that once adorned the walls of many churches.
What Can We Do?
This is all well-known, you may say. But what can we do? I propose, first, that it is important for Christians to understand Marxism.17 This ideology pushes atheism and persecutes Christians. Books like The Heavenly Man (Brother Yun)18 provide good insight because they record personal accounts of how the enemy has used Marxism in China to attack the Church. Marxism is alive in the West and is as much a challenge to the Church here as in explicitly Communist countries like China.
Secondly, may I suggest that we pray alongside and for our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong and China, for the Lord’s hand over his ekklesia and his guidance and mercy for them. In Hong Kong, where Christianity has been present for 178 years, about 12% of the 7.5 million residents are Christian. Christians in mainland China have suffered severe oppression under the CCP; Christians in Hong Kong fear that a similar fate awaits them.
Meanwhile, in 2017 President Xi declared a new era in which China “takes centre stage in the world”. China is becoming more totalitarian at home and more assertive abroad.19 China is wielding unexpected power in c.150 countries through trade credit (largely hidden) and loans (often with significant strings attached) amounting to $1.5 trillion.20 Xi’s policies to attain world dominance are in operation and quietly advancing.21 Perhaps we should pray for the truth to be exposed and for guidance from the Lord about how he wants us to pray into the specifics of this situation?
The CCP is setting itself up to be ‘god’ and is exceedingly oppressive. The Lord has much to say about those seeking to replace him. The Lord hears the cries of the oppressed and the poor. In his perfect time, the Lord will bring their suffering to an end and their persecutors to justice (Ps 72:1-4; 12-14).
We should pray for the Spirit of the Lord to rest on the UK and US governments and other concerned leaders (Isa 11:2) to lead and guide us in the days to come. Boris Johnson has offered c.2.9 million eligible Hong Kong citizens rights that could lead to UK citizenship,22 but that does not solve the problem for the remaining c.4.6 million residents.
Dominic Raab has said that Britain would be willing to forgo a trade deal with China, but retaliatory threats and interdependency, caused by globalism, cause challenges. The new Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, launched in June 2020 to rein in China,23 aims to bring democratic countries together to defend our shared principles.
In the USA, President Trump has announced that the special trading status hitherto held by Hong Kong is to be withdrawn to shut off this benefit to China. He has also passed a bill seeking to hold individual CCP members responsible for the atrocities against the Uighur Muslims.
Christians in mainland China have suffered severe oppression under the CCP; Christians in Hong Kong fear that a similar fate awaits them.
Time’s Up?
There is much more that could be said but I would like to leave you with this thought and question. In the last few weeks there has been tremendous flooding, snow and even extraordinary coronavirus-shaped hail in China.24 It is reported to be the worst flood season in 80 years, spanning at least 10 states.25 The coronavirus is still causing substantial lockdowns. Might the Lord be saying something to the leadership in China? The CCP came to power 71 years ago. Is it time to ask the Lord when he will be bringing this ‘king’ down in the same way he brought the USSR down?
Lord, we pray for your will to be done and your Kingdom to come. Be glorified across the earth!
References
1 The Skies Over Beijing Turn Black in Middle of Day as Government Passes New Laws Against Christians. Back to Jerusalem.
2 The sky of Beijing turns into complete darkness during the afternoon. Dimsum Daily, 22 May 2020.
3 China passes new security law to crush Hong Kong dissent. The Times, 1 July 2020.
4 Hong Kong: the Joint Declaration. House of Commons Library, 4 July 2020.
5 E.g. watch here on Youtube. See also, Hong Kong Protesters Sang 'Hallelujah to the Lord' as They Boldly Confronted China. CBN News, 18 June 2019.
6 See reports from Reuters, the South China Morning Post and the Hong Kong Free Press.
7 Arranz, A. Arrested Hong Kong protesters: how the numbers look one year on. South China Morning Post, 11 June 2020.
8 See note 3.
9 Hong Kong security law: What is it and is it worrying? BBC News, 30 June 2020.
10 E.g. Dikotter, F, 2010. Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-1962. Bloomsbury, USA. Read this and others here.
11 At least 10,000 people died in Tiananmen Square massacre… The Independent, 23 December 2017.
12 Tao, J. In China, Moses Delivers Only Nine Commandments. Bitter Winter, 28 December 2018.
13 Yijiang, L. Sinicization Turns Churches into CCP Clubs. Bitter Winter, 21 December 2018.
14 World Watch List: China. Open Doors.
15 E.g. see China Destroys Another Church – This Time It Was Caught on Camera. Back to Jerusalem.
16 Feng, T. Xi Jinping’s Quotes Replace the Ten Commandments in Churches. Bitter Winter, 14 September 2019.
17 E.g. China’s “New Era” with Xi Jinping characteristics. European Council on Foreign Relations, 15 December 2017.
18 Read more at Back to Jerusalem.
19 See note 16.
20 E.g. See coverage at the Harvard Business Review and Business Insider.
21 Ibid. See also Lessons from Sri Lanka on China's 'debt-trap diplomacy'. Institute for Security Studies.
22 PM Boris Johnson article on Hong Kong: 3 June 2020. 10 Downing St.
23 See coverage at The Telegraph.
24 China in Focus, 25 June 2020.
25 Videos show massive flooding in S. China, Three Gorges Dam next. Taiwan News, 23 June 2020.
