U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2006)

Testimony of Stephen M. Liston Director, Office of International Religious Freedom at the Hearing of the House International Relations Committee

Examination of a Fundamental Human Right: The 2006 International Religious Freedom Report

December 21, 2006

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Countries of Particular Concern

One of the key functions of the Report is to serve as the Department's basic tool for determining the worst violators of religious freedom around the world. Although we make every effort to work with governments to advance religious freedom, a number of countries not only fall far short of international standards, but demonstrate little improvement. Therefore, every year the Secretary of State designates Countries of Particular Concern. Just last month, Secretary Rice designated one new CPC, Uzbekistan, and re-designated seven countries which were on the CPC list last year: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. I would like to briefly mention today three countries where Ambassador Hanford and the Office of International Religious Freedom have focused our efforts over the last year.

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In China, the underground Protestant groups, Catholics who recognize the spiritual authority of the Pope, Muslim Uighurs, Tibetan Buddhists, and members of groups the government considers to be "cults," including the Falun Gong, continue to experience intimidation, harassment, detention and reeducation through labor camps. In prison, the government abused members of unregistered religious groups like the South China Church for refusing to recant their beliefs. There were also credible reports of deaths in prisons and labor camps due to torture and abuse.

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