In recent years, the diplomatic relations between the world’s two largest economies, the USA and China, have experienced many challenges. People generally think that economic, military and international politics are essential factors in bilateral relations between both nations. However, religion is also a significant factor in both countries’ diplomatic intricacies, which have many differences in this important matter.
The importance of religion has risen considerably in international relations in the last few decades since the end of the Cold War. The 9/11attack has been a catalyst in increasing the significance of religion. In a report released in June 2020, the U.S. government has accused China, North Korea, and Iran, among other countries, of subdued religious freedom. The report uses strong language and says, “In China, state-sponsored repression against all religions continues to intensify.” In China, many quarters think that Washington uses religious freedoms as a tool to pressurize Beijing and gain concessions in trade and commerce. In China, there is a widely believed notion that the Trump administration is only interested in economic and monetary benefits; therefore, it is just giving lip service to religious freedoms to achieve its underlying objectives. Another school of thought in China believes that the nation should give due importance to religious liberties to improve its international image because it has become an essential and inevitable aspect in the unplanned considerations of foreign policy and national security in various states. Moreover, they suggest that Beijing should be more flexible in religious freedoms to minorities to win their hearts and improve its faith diplomacy, which is also referred to as religious public diplomacy. It is clear that religious freedom is not in good condition in China. Still, it remains a question of whether the USA is really serious about the issue or it uses the matter to gain diplomatic mileage over its rival.
In a more severe move in June 2020, President Trump signed a bill calling for sanctions on Beijing over the repression of Chinese Uighurs. Uighurs are considered one of those religious minorities in China who are facing severe problems due to restrictions of religious freedoms. The majority of Uighurs are Muslims. Another aspect of the alleged suppression of religious minorities in China is the absence of a free press in the country. The authorities keep a strict check on social media to control anti-state actions and postings. As expected, China has acted strongly against the bill and threatened to retaliate. The saddest aspect of the diplomatic tussle over religion between the two nations is that practical measures are not taken to improve the conditions of religious minorities in China. International media should observe the situation. According to UNO, “more than a million Muslims have been detained in camps in the Xinjiang region.” Beijing officials deny such reports by calling them propaganda against China and dirty tactics to pressurize it to gain mileage in trade talks. According to the Chinese version of the story, such camps provide vocational training to Muslims of the Xinjiang region. An interesting clause of the bill signed by Trump forbade American organizations to use parts manufactured in referred detention camps or forced labor.
Washington’s allegation and the counter-narrative by Beijing prove that the religious factor plays an essential role in diplomatic relations between China and the USA. With time, the diplomatic tussle might become severe as political, economic, and military factors play a role as a catalyst in tricky relations between the two most powerful nations of the world. It might be in both nations’ interest to respect religious freedoms and solve disputes amicably.
