When people are suffering and images of their suffering seem to be absent from reporting in our news outlets, I am compelled to use this platform to bring that suffering to light. China is undergoing a moment of significant transition. Protests are taking place the likes of which we have never seen before. Protesters are loudly calling for the end of Communism and the ousting of the Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In the past, such actions have caused Chinese citizens to be “disappeared” or sent to reeducation camps.
Severe lockdowns in some cities have been in place since the beginning of the pandemic. Massive apartment complexes have had their exit doors welded shut to keep people controlled and isolated under a draconian Covid quarantine. Last week people were burned to death in one of those apartment complexes unable to escape. Apple, a company that manufactures the iPhone and who needs a close working relationship with the Chinese Communist Party to stay in business, has restricted the use of the Airdrop app on their iPhones whick allowed Chinese citizens to communicate with each other. When challenged by this issue our government conveniently dismissed the concern. Who we protect indicates who we serve.
We have segments of our political and economic system in the United States that have been compromised into silence failing to confront the actions of the Chinese government. This includes one of our beloved sporting interests like the NBA which does not want to offend the significant business interests they have in China.
Our current administration is free to publicly demand the new ownership of Twitter comply with their demands on how the company should be run but remain distant and publicly uncommitted to confront Apple. Twitter and Apple are private companies, and one would think equal treatment would be appropriate. What is being played out in front of our eyes is the level of control China has over its people and other nations including the United States. These are glimpses into what is taking place globally when dark spirits are allowed to manipulate governments and continue to work unhindered toward their end game without exposure to the light of truth.
While we love to hang a painting of “Footprints in the Sand” depicting Jesus carrying us across the troubled terrain of life, it might be time to take that plaque down and recalibrate our thinking. Maybe those of us who live in the West and still have some freedom need to display a different image. This would be an image representing people being dragged across the beach of their culture against their will as a reminder of a suffering that we had no idea was happening before exposure took place. When such news comes to our attention, it would a failure of our faith to ignore it and go on with our blessed lives choosing to live in a state of ignorant bliss. As equally sad are those who mock such exposure labeling it as political and not something the Church should be involved with or speak out against.
Tim Cook is also reported to have “sold out” and invested > $200B in China to provide the CCP with tools that increase their cyber grip on the populace.
He recently briefed a global audience praising China (not the CCP specifically) for their belt and road initiative that have lifted hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens from poverty into the “middle class” (defined as living in a shelter with electricity and running water). China plans to extend belt and road to W Asian nations and also to Africa at the cost of economic colonialism and silencing any voice that is critical of China’s policies.
In the same briefing he praised China for being totally aligned with Apple’s commitment to the environment and climate change mitigation. HE did not mention that China is building over 700 new coal-fired power plants to provide the electricity needed for belt and road.
It would be unwise to regard Apple as an advocate of freedom while under Tim Cook’s leadership. He sold out.
This is so dark and daunting. And sobering. I think of the apostle John’s words, “greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.” Very comforting and powerful in light of the dark powers obviously at work in the world as you describe. We obviously have access to more power than we know. We can defeat this darkness together in Christ. Thank you for bringing these sinister footprints to light.