Trade, labor rights, and religious freedom have long been issues for The United Methodist Church. More than 200 years ago, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, denounced the practices of child labor and sweatshops, prohibited his followers from purchasing goods made with slave labor, and denounced those who would deny religious freedom. Today, the U.S. Congress is debating these same issues with regard to China. Some would have us believe that the issues of labor rights, forced labor, and religious freedom in China can best be addressed by avoiding an annual review of the U.S.-China trading relationship. They argue that a permanent most favored nation status is the only way to bring about improved human rights in the China.
Trade is seen as a panacea that solves all problems.
Human rights and religious freedoms in China have improved since the dark days of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution when churches and temples were destroyed, but these rights still are not respected in China. The world cannot have one standard of human rights for apartheid South Africa and another for an authoritarian Chinese state merely because China is a bigger trading partner or a larger military threat. I do not advocate making China our enemy or cutting off trade but believe that a yearly review of China's human rights status by Congress serves to promote human rights and religious freedom. Granting of permanent trading relations to China will signal that the U.S. considers trade benefits more important than religious freedom or other human rights. The government of the Peoples' Republic of China and its ruling Communist Party continue to discriminate against, harass, jail, and torture people on the basis of their religious beliefs.