China Cracks Down On Churches

On the eve of Obama's visit to China, the Chinese government has begun a campaign of harassment, closing churches and arresting church leaders. This sort of persecution isn't new, but beginning one just as an American president is about to arrive is. Traditionally Beijing looses up its anti-human rights position, sometimes even letting some arrested rights advocate go. What is different this time? For the first time since the US normalized relations with China, America has a government that has officially puts diplomatic good will ahead of human rights. This policy change was apparent last month, when Obama became the first president to refuse to see the Dalai Lama.