“It is absurd that China, an atheistic country of religious oppression, appointed Catholic bishops,” stated a well-informed Taiwanese professor regarding China’s state of religious oppression.

In September of 2018, breaking news came out that China and the Vatican signed a provisional agreement to end a long-fought power struggle over the right to appoint bishops in China.

Under the agreement, the Pope recognized seven Chinese-appointed bishops. The Vatican extensively compromised with China, and this became a historical breakthrough between two sides since they cut off diplomatic ties in 1951.

Already, two bishops from China attended a Vatican synod which took place in October. The two nations have drastically closed their distance.

The Vatican and China each have their own views.

The Vatican aims to acquire the “promising market” with an increasing number of Catholics in China. Currently, China’s estimated 12 million Catholics are divided between a state-approved churches and underground churches loyal to the Vatican.

Under Xi Jinping, the crackdown on underground churches have worsened and many churches are being shut down. Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Hong Kong emeritus bishop, showed concerns that China is using the deal to further pressure underground churches.

 

China’s Tactic to Isolate Taiwan

China’s plan is to cut off diplomatic ties with the Vatican and Taiwan.

Since 2016 when independence-leaning Tsai Ing-wen won the presidential election in Taiwan, China has pressured Taiwan to cut off ties with five nations. A majority of the 17 nations that officially recognize the Taiwanese government are Catholic. The Vatican holds significant influential power, and if they decide to break off from Taiwan, other nations may start to break off. This will be the end of Taiwan’s diplomatic activities.

Master Ryuho Okawa, founder of Happy Science, addressed these urgent crises in his book, “Justice of Japan in Leading the World” (Note: the book has not been published in English).

 

 
Through the agreement, there are two battles going on simultaneously: ideological and diplomatic.

 

 
If we lose in both ideological and diplomatic battles, there exists the threat of a defensive battle involving the military. This also goes for Taiwan—they must first verbally fight back with ideology.

From the next page, we will introduce the voices of activists who are fighting this exact ideological war in Taiwan.

 

---

 

Interview 1

 

Cooperation of Democratic Countries Can Overpower China

We interviewed a Taiwanese professor for solutions regarding religious repression and the violation of human rights under China’s government.

Before the Chinese Communist Party took over China, there was a faith in which all things in the nature have a soul. Many people believed that the soul continues to live after death, and good actions lead to God in the afterlife.

However, the Chinese Communist Party brainwashes their citizens with socialism, atheism and materialism, leading to a loss in their faith.

Furthermore, some Chinese people imposed a huge threat for the Communist Party through their unwavering faiths and devotion. That is why the Communist Party oppresses religion.

The laws that supervise religion in China are extremely strict, and patriotism comes before religious doctrine. Any religious meetings require an approval from the security bureau.

In traditional religions such as Taoism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, officers from the Communist Party penetrate the groups to make them government-affiliated organizations.

Emerging, new religions are denied and viewed as heretical cults.

Meanwhile in Taiwan, both traditional and emerging religions are entirely protected. Falun Gong is treated as a cult and severely oppressed in mainland China; in Taiwan, they are freely active. Why isn’t it a social issue in Taiwan? The problem lies with the Chinese Communist Party, not Falun Gong itself.

 

Vatican Agreement is a “Devil’s Deal”

Recently, the Vatican reached an agreement with China over the appointment of bishops. Bishops are agents of God, and therefore must be respected. That is why, I believe it is absurd for the Vatican to give appointment rights to a country that doesn’t believe in God and oppresses religion. How can those appointed bishops be god’s agents? The Vatican-China agreement is a “devil’s deal.”

Currently, there is violent confrontation between U.S. and China. What separates the two countries? The U.S. is a nation where the president makes a declaration to God. It was built upon Christianity, and the ideology of ‘love’ is rooted in the nation. Perhaps, that is what led the U.S. to become a great nation within a short period of 250 years.

I believe the separation between the U.S. and China lies in the freedom and diversity built upon this faith.

Countries that believe in God become humble, and countries that deny God’s existence become arrogant. God created people and gave all people the freedom of conscience and thought. However, the atheists believe a pursuit of the spiritual world is unnecessary. We can empower the Chinese only when we break the Communist Party’s censorship of thought.

 

Supporting China’s Believers

To achieve societal peace, Taiwan’s strategic positioning is extremely important. Taiwan and China both belong to Greater China, sharing the same language and culture. Therefore, Taiwan has a responsibility to communicate the truth behind China’s religious oppression.

They must get in touch with advocates of religious freedom within China and continue supporting them.

 

Japan Should Fight Against China

One factor that drove Japan as a modern civilized nation after the Meiji Restoration is the westernization of Japanese culture. Back then, Japan’s politicians had foresight and the courage to choose the right direction.

If Taiwan is seized by China, Japan will be forced to get involved in war. But when liberal countries such as Japan, Taiwan, U.S., and India come together, we’ll overpower China. This will become the key to preventing China’s tyranny.

I look forward to Japanese politicians who have foresight, to cooperate with Taiwan and lead their confrontation against China.

 

---

 

Interview 2

 

China’s Violence of Human Rights Extend to Taiwan and Hong Kong

“Self-censorship” is a film that voices the lost freedom in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Taiwanese director spoke of the thoughts that went into his creation.

I created the documentary film, “Censorship,” to tell the story of the lack of freedom in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The people of China are controlled by fear and this fear extends to Taiwan and Hong Kong. Even the people of Taiwan and Hong Kong have unconsciously “self-censored” themselves. In other words, they check to see that what they’re transmitting aligns with the Chinese government.

The movie includes a scene with a Beijing artist moments before he was arrested for making a film that interviewed poor people who were thrown out by the government.

My mission is to tell these stories of the wrongful violence of human rights to the global society and protect the lives of activists who are chained in China.

 

Hong Kong Student Arrested in China

A Hong Kong student was studying abroad in Taiwan. When he visited China, he went to a church and gave a donation. When he was in an airport in China, he was arrested by the police for “helping to overthrow the government.” It was a crime. They checked his computer and arrested another devotee who the student was in touch with.

On top of practicing zero religious tolerance in China, even people from Hong Kong can be captured. It’s horrific. I plan on making a film about the Chinese government’s religious oppression in the future.

Currently, the Trump administration is calling for action against China’s violation of human liberty. If this issue comes to light on a global scale, it will protect the activists who taken into custody.

I would like the people of Japan to look at China’s wrongful oppression, not as a “fire on the opposite shore,” but as if it were their own and take tangible action to rescue the victims. (interview)

 

---

 

Interview 3

 
Now is the Time to Bring Forth Religion’s Power of “Tolerance”
We asked a Tibetan Buddhist Taiwanese representative what they think is necessary to battle China’s religious oppression.

For the people of Tibet, faith means “the meaning of life.” Just like necessities such as air and water, faith is something they cannot live without. All kinds of wisdom originated from religion, and religion lays the foundation for ethical decision-making. That is why Tibetan people cannot leave their faith.

After the Chinese Communist Party seized Tibet, they followed Marxist principles and used violence to murder wealthy people and practiced an equality of poverty.

The atheist principles that China brought into Tibet isn’t valuable, and there is absolutely no reason for the Tibetan people to accept atheism and give up their faith.

 

The Guiding Hand Has Been Raised

In 1959, many Tibetan people fled to India. India’s Hindu government provided us Tibetan Buddhists with warm shelter.

Additionally, the first guiding hand has been raised by the Christians, especially the Catholic Church. For many years, they have supported us with things such as hospitals and schools.

Any world religions teach to deny violence and help the weak. If you’re a passionate disciple, don’t you feel the desire to help those who have their faiths suppressed? If you help others, they will support you at a time of trouble.

The Chinese government doesn’t target a specific religion; they suppress all religions. There’s no worse atheistic, anti-religious nation besides China.

While the leader of each religions should bear more weight, the current global “religious circle” is not enough. This is the result of each religious groups thinking, ‘our religion is the best in the world.’

Now is the time to overcome religious differences and practice tolerance and generosity that embody religion.

 

Japan, to Lead as Protector of “Freedom, Democracy and Faith”

How can Japan have a leader who values “freedom, democracy, and faith” to lead Japan to solve China’s violation of human rights?

Presently, Japan’s government is not taking specific action regarding China’s violation of human rights. However, China’s takeover of Taiwan is a great danger for Japan, and Japan needs to take discrete actions to prevent them.

Contrary to the Japanese government, the Trump administration in the U.S. is taking an unyielding stance against China’s violation of human rights and military expansion. Placing freedom of religion as the administration’s top priority in foreign policies, the administration gathered top leaders and religious organizations around the world to discuss freedom of religion in a ministerial-level conference in September of 2018 (photo below).

In a ministerial-level conference regarding trade and safety policies that occurred in November in Washington D.C., U.S. expressed clear criticism towards China regarding its conflict with Taiwan and South China Sea in addition to the oppression of Uyghur people.

The U.S. Department of State has already released its annual International Religious Freedom Report, and placed an Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. The U.S. Congress has debated multiple times regarding China’s religious discrimination and violation of human rights in public hearings. They are considering repercussions against the secretary general of Chen and Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region based on the “Magnitsky Law,” applied to senior foreign government officials involved in human rights violations.

Japan’s administration should follow these attitudes to fights against human rights violations. Furthermore, Japan is one of the top developed nations to not accept refugees.* In the future, they will need to prepare policies to admit religious refugees into the country.

Japan needs to convey the value of freedom, democracy, and faith to China and stop their invasion of Taiwan through its verbal and ideological debates, which come before foreign policy war and defense war.

 

---

 

God’s Love Brings Everything Together

Master Ryuho Okawa, founder of Happy Science, has said the following in his latest book entitled “The Bronze Laws”:

 
Justice is required to protect Japan and Taiwan. God’s love needs to be reflected into speeches, actions and courage to protect Asia’s peace.

Dear Japan, Expanding “Religious Freedom”

1. Appoint ministers to handle global religious oppression
2. Investigate religious and human rights oppression in countries like China, and release annual reports
3. Hold international meetings to promote religious freedom
4. Support organizations that fight religious oppression in financial and other aspects
5. Organize laws that allow religious refugee acceptance
6. Negotiate to keep ties between Taiwan and Vatican
7. Give repercussions to government officials who took part in religious and human rights oppression in countries like China