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How the son of a beggar became a guide to the recently escaped dissident Chen Guangcheng
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When I read the notes on this next story I knew that you would want to hear about -- it is simply fascinating to me that in Midland Texas.
There is a pastor.
It is reaching out to people in China in a way that is so necessary.
I hope his story will inspire other people to get involved in -- -- so -- with the Wall Street Journal.
Brave enough wall street journal editorial board no last.
A -- you don't even need to editorialize this story the facts really speak for themselves.
This past -- Not only has opinions on mr.
Chen who was the blind.
Activist who is now on our soil.
But also about many other people in China who are suffering so -- and he's making a difference from Midland Texas tell us how he certainly is his name is Bob police 44 years -- -- -- something called China aid.
Which is a nonprofit based in Midland Texas.
-- and Bob does many things but.
Generally speaking he has a network of literally thousands.
Of underground Christians of freedom fighters.
Of dissidents and act democracy.
Activists within mainland China who are working to change the country for the better.
And Bob himself as personal knowledge of the plight of the ordinary Chinese because he's one of them he was born into poverty in Shandong Province.
I made his -- -- university was very involved in the student movement in Tiananmen square.
He and his wife became Christians.
They were persecuted.
And Bill Clinton gave them asylum in the United States and this is where he was able to start this project and as -- said -- -- for the better how hard is it to be a Christian in China it's very hard to be Christian China China has several official.
Quote -- sanctions churches so.
Officially they have a Christian church that reports to be atheist Communist Party.
But there's a very very broad movement of underground Christians who -- worshipping in secret.
How many does the pastor thing -- I saw.
That he estimates huge numbers of people in China coming -- country of one point three billion people around 6200 million is not a lot but it's growing very very fast.
And these people they're not just important because they bring a moral compass to a very corrupt society -- -- which is -- -- from the very very top.
To the very very bottom is the rule of law they also -- a big void in the society.
They're doing things like taking care of orphans taking care of elderly people the same kind of charity.
In generosity of spirit that Christians have here in the United States -- very very important thing for China how does he do this and has the Internet played a big role in his ability to do the work.
Halfway around the world.
Yeah -- well it.
You have to be very careful about talking about how -- mr.
-- communicates with people back in China.
There's certainly monitored.
Yes he uses the Internet yes use the telephone letters.
Words words and communicate mapped about communication -- the person rather.
But you know the people who are working for him in China are all volunteers.
And -- Are often harassed some of them have been arrested for helping him.
Even something as simple as taking a photograph of underground church which has been raised by the local government to put these people in jail for it for several years.
So while he was willing to talk to me a little bit about those techniques that you could -- -- -- wanting to know I understand the interview you handled in such a delicate.
And up and thoughtful way.
-- costs.
His.
The work that he's doing let's just say.
The Chinese Government they're not fans well you it into an extraordinary thing to use of this administration has treated human rights in China I was gonna ask you President Bush met Kelly isn't how we -- -- -- read -- but -- President Obama is refusing to immediately Manuel didn't come to you why this is important.
The United States leads the world on human rights if we don't stand up and talk about what's really going on in places like China.
No other country will we basically give cover.
To other countries to speak out.
And in the Chinese people do you understand.
When our stance changes.
-- -- -- very recent change standing up for human rights and in universal values American values of freedom and liberty.
That's a bipartisan thing.
Yes president George W.
Bush -- underground Christians into.
His personal resonance.
At the White House.
He met mr.
fu and in some human rights lawyers three times this president has refused.
To me why -- because he said why well he told me that the administration is taking a quote unquote different approach I asked mr.
-- what is this approach.
Well basically it's just the anti bush approach.
But they're starting to realize that that's not working because what's happening China is cracking down.
Harder than ever before because they realize that the United States is not gonna bring any pressure to bear.
And I'm gonna guess why but -- with the Wall Street Journal China owns us know just does not -- us well they aren't a lot of our debt -- reliant on them no no we're not correct wanna correct us I was -- opinion editor for six years in Hong Kong.
Just came back to the US last year this is a fallacy that everybody talks about well for us okay -- okay there's no other market in the world -- China can put its money.
Are they gonna put their money in the end it's not deep enough or liquid enough for broad enough the market.
Yes we'll a lot of money to the Chinese that is our problem that is not the Chinese problem if they sold our debt tomorrow that would hurt China it just is for -- would hurt.
Abbas what we have to do with China is encourage them to liberalized open up.
To trade because it's not a zero sum game with China their prosperity is our prosperity and that's why what mr.
food is doing.
And I didn't get into this too much in the weekend interview in the in the Wall Street Journal on Saturday but.
What mr.
food is doing is important because what he's doing is instilling.
The kind of sensible moral compass and values.
It's an ordinary Chinese people and this is what will eventually change China.
The change is coming from within -- -- but hopefully it it will come it will come they're like Americans are entrepreneurial their family oriented.
They're they're gonna hit pro capitalist.
The Chinese people are very different from the one party authoritarian state that rules them and these are the people.
That the administration and we have to speak to.
And you have.
And mr.
Phil is and must have been extraordinary to meet him -- thank you so much for being with us I I really appreciated the chance to read the article it and I'm sure it's available online people should check it out it's not -- Kessel KI SS EL.
Google it check it out Wall Street Journal dot com.
