One of Seven: Sen. Cotton Highlights China's Calculated Approach to Religious Persecution

Epoch Times

23-05-2025

Commentary
Sen. Tom Cotton's (R-Ark.) latest book, 'Seven Things You Can't Say About China,' rips back the curtain on the Chinese Communist Party's persistent influence and ongoing efforts to suppress political, economic, and social freedoms. While much of the global conversation surrounding China focuses on trade and military expansion, a critical and often overlooked aspect of Beijing's authoritarianism is its systematic persecution of religious groups.
China's efforts are no longer confined to traditional methods of censorship and intimidation; it has expanded into a sophisticated network of surveillance technology and economic coercion, aiding its efforts to silence dissent both at home and abroad.
A State-Controlled Faith: China's War on Religious Freedom
China does not abide religious independence. Instead, it allows for only
For Christians, the control is
In regions like Xinjiang, the persecution is even more extreme. Uyghur Muslims face mass detentions, forced labor, and ideological indoctrination, all aimed at
These attacks are particularly disheartening when we consider that, in a country of 1.4 billion people, fewer than 25 percent adhere to any religion.
Technology as a Weapon of Suppression
China is perfecting its persecution of religious groups. No longer simply about physical oppression, it now harnesses the world's most advanced
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Meanwhile, digital censorship ensures that religious discourse remains firmly under state control. Religious websites, online sermons, and digital faith communities must receive government approval to exist. Chinese authorities routinely shut down platforms that distribute religious materials, ensuring that spiritual teachings remain inaccessible outside of state-sanctioned institutions. Furthermore,
The Economic Side of Religious Persecution
China's war on faith is firmly nested in its global economic strategy. Forced labor involving religious minorities—particularly Uyghurs—has created an
Beyond forced labor, China has leveraged economic dependency to
Even in the United States and other Western countries, China exploits economic retaliations to silence dissent. Corporations that criticize Beijing's human rights record frequently face trade restrictions or are blocked from the Chinese market.
What Comes Next?
While the United States has responded with
Internationally, China's export of surveillance technology to authoritarian regimes raises deeper concerns. Many governments have purchased Chinese facial recognition systems, signaling a growing trend where
The Future of Religious Freedom in China
Under Xi Jinping's leadership, China's religious persecution has evolved into a multi-dimensional strategy, combining state control, economic leverage, and technological suppression to dismantle independent faith communities. The question now is whether Western nations will move beyond rhetoric to take tangible steps in response. Economic policy, diplomatic alliances, and counter-surveillance measures will determine whether Beijing's war on religious freedom continues unchallenged—or whether global pressure forces a reckoning.
For now, Cotton's book highlights an uncomfortable truth: China's human rights abuses are not isolated incidents—they are a calculated strategy designed to reshape global governance. And unless the world takes action, the consequences will extend far beyond China's borders.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.