[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IMPRISONED CHINESE PASTOR XU JONGZE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. DeLay] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, once again I rise to call attention to the 
plight of those persecuted for their religious faith in China, 
particularly Pastor Xu Yongze. This marks the third occasion on which I 
have taken to the floor to address Pastor Xu's imprisonment, and I will 
continue to speak out until Chinese authorities release Pastor Xu.
  Tomorrow morning, Mr. Speaker, I will be eating breakfast in my 
office by myself. As I announced earlier today, I have reluctantly but 
resolutely decided that I must boycott the congressional leadership 
breakfast with Chinese President Jiang Zemin. I fear that the Chinese 
Government's intransigence leaves me no other choice because for months 
I have engaged in quiet, respectful diplomatic efforts to secure Pastor 
Xu's freedom. Many of my colleagues have as well.
  Mr. Speaker, we have written to the Chinese leadership. We have 
discussed our concerns in meetings with Chinese officials and we have 
sent very clear, consistent signals about the importance of Pastor Xu 
and religious liberty in China.
  We are not alone. Many religious human rights and business leaders 
have also informed the Chinese Government of their concern for Pastor 
Xu. Pastor Xu is not the only one to be afflicted. I am told that at 
least 200 other Protestant and Catholic leaders are currently 
imprisoned in China simply for the peaceful practice of their faith.
  Thousands, perhaps even millions of other Christians suffer beatings, 
detentions, and severe fines if they do not submit their religious 
activities to government control.
  Mr. Speaker, I speak out for Pastor Xu because he is perhaps China's 
most prominent minister and because his plight symbolizes the suffering 
of so many other precious believers in China. Pastor Xu and the 
millions of other believers like him have no political agenda. Indeed, 
they only regard politics as a distraction from their true calling to 
preach the gospel and worship their lord.
  Now, I am baffled, Mr. Speaker, as why the Chinese Government 
continues to insist on imprisoning and mistreating Pastor Xu and so 
many other innocent believers like him. China has demonstrated 
admirable progress in economic reform and security concerns and several 
other areas, but when it comes to religious liberty, China has 
tragically regressed.
  I truly desire engagement with China and a positive relationship 
based on mutual respect. But on this matter, China has shown no respect 
for our concerns. And so, Mr. Speaker, I am left with no other choice. 
My principles as an American and my conscience as a human being and my 
convictions as a Christian will not allow me to meet with President 
Jiang Zemin in the morning.
  Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. I do not oppose dialog with China. 
I welcome such opportunities and I hope that my colleagues who do 
attend that breakfast find that the discussion is substantive and 
fruitful. But I also hope that I will have opportunities to engage in 
further dialogue with China's leadership myself, and I urge those who 
do meet with President Jiang to raise forcefully the plight of the 
suffering church.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me humbly but earnestly suggest to my 
colleagues and to the American people that we remember Pastor Xu and 
the believers in China in our prayers. And I pray that as Pastor Xu 
languishes alone in prison he will know that he is not forgotten. I 
pray that as Jiang Zemin returns to China, he will know that Pastor Xu 
will not be forgotten.

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