CECC Chairman Senator Chuck Hagel’s Statement on China’s Religious Regulations Roundtable

Congressional-Executive Commission on China | www.cecc.gov

CECC Chairman Senator Chuck Hagel’s Statement on China’s Religious Regulations Roundtable

November 21, 2006 

(Washington, DC)—The Congressional-Executive Commission on China held another in its series of staff-led Issues Roundtables, entitled “China’s National and Local Regulations on Religion: Recent Developments in Legislation and Implementation,” on Monday, November 20. The panelists Eric R. Carlson, Attorney, Covington & Burling LLP; Bob (Xiqiu) Fu, President, China Aid Association; and James W. Tong, Associate Professor of Comparative Politics, University of California-Los Angeles and Editor, Chinese Law and Government, spoke about recent religious regulations in China and discussed the practical impact of such regulations on freedom of religion.

Following the roundtable U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Chairman of the Commission, said:

“China’s increasing economic freedoms have not been matched by similar progress in the area of human rights, including freedom of religion. The Chinese government does not respect citizens’ right to choose how, where, and with whom they will worship. Until China removes its controls on religion, Chinese citizens will not enjoy religious freedom in accordance with international human rights standards.”

Additional information regarding this roundtable, including written statements of the panelists, is available on the CECC’s Web site at: /roundtable/chinas-national-and-local-regulations-on-religion-recent-developments-in-legislation-and

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