Beijing, China - In Obama's first presidential tour of Asia, he's devoting the lion's share of the time (four days) to China. And China presents a lion of a problem: religious freedom.
At Politics Daily, David Gibson writes in a great overview of the complex situation:
Few topics have as much potential to complicate his mission abroad -- or polish his image with Americans back home, from conservative Christians to supporters of Tibetan Buddhism -- as religious freedom in China ...
... Even as capitalism is gradually encouraged, religious practice remains under strict state supervision ... religious leaders themselves often face lengthy prison terms under harsh conditions.
Will the Obama administration couch its stance in light of the growing economy and power of China? Or will it listen to the human rights groups that spoke out en masse last week?
In an open letter, Leonard Leo, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, called on Obama to:
Urge China to lift all restrictions on peaceful worship
Meet with religious leaders and attend worship services
Urge China to share the whereabouts of disappeared religious leaders and release those imprisoned over religion
Sam Zarifi, Asia-Pacific director of Amnesty International, said:
President Obama must take this opportunity to show that the U.S. views human rights as a central plank of its relationship with China.
Richard Gere, chairman of the International Campaign on Tibet, urged Obama to arrange a meeting between the Dalai Lama and Chinese President Hu Jintao:
It is clear to us that no efforts will yield positive results as long as the Chinese government continues to vilify His Holiness and propagandize against the Tibetan people who remain committed to a peaceful resolution.
Citing Obama's postponement of a meeting with the Dalai Lama when the Tibetan leader visited Washington earlier this year, a Christianity Today editorial says:
Worrisome signs suggest that religious freedom is not a high priority for the President and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
What should be the administration's highest priority when it comes to China? How do you think Obama can handle religious freedom?