A barbaric violation: Forced abortion in China

What may be the world’s most grievous, government-enforced program has been in the news lately because of the faithful reporting of bold and burdened people inside and outside China.

There have been timely accounts of unborn babies being aborted against their mother’s wills in the last few weeks, revealing the personal pain that is rampant under China’s massive, “one-child,” population control policy that has been in force for more than three decades. Victims and their advocates have told of government officials kidnapping in their final trimesters of pregnancy women who do not have birth permits, forcibly holding them down, killing their babies with injections and leaving the devastated mothers to await the delivery of their dead children.

Here are some recently reported cases:

-- The case of Feng Jianmei began receiving worldwide attention after her seven-month-old unborn daughter was forcibly aborted June 2 in Shaanxi Province. Her beautifully formed – though dead -- baby girl was placed next to her in bed. Her husband, Deng Jiyuan, posted a photo online of his dead daughter next to his grieving wife, and the story and photo went viral after the news broke June 12 in the West.

-- Hu Jia’s baby was forcibly aborted at nearly eight months June 19 in Hubei Province, according to a major Chinese newspaper, the Southern Metropolis Daily.

-- Zhan Wen Fang, also of Hubei Province, came forward to report her baby was forcibly aborted at nine months in 2008.

-- Cao Ruyi of Hunan Province was taken June 6 by family planning officials in an attempt to abort her five-month-old unborn child. International pressure helped bring about a reduction in the fine officials were seeking for her unpermitted pregnancy, enabling her to leave the hospital where her baby was to be aborted. Yet, the threat to her unborn child continues.

Reggie Littlejohn, an advocate for Chinese women and their unborn children, and other witnesses reported on these cases, some already widely known, during a hearing Monday, July 9, before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee.

At that hearing, Bob Fu, a Christian and president of the China Aid Association, told representatives these incidents are “only the tip of the iceberg.” He said, “Feng Jianmei’s tragedy is repeated hundreds and thousands of times each day in China.”

China’s coercive, population control program – and its implementation in the provinces – is a barbaric violation of the image of God, the sanctity of human life and the rights of millions upon millions of Chinese people.

Abortion is a sin against God and a crime against humanity. America has a wicked, legal abortion regime that is propped up by clinics that appear far more interested in making money than in giving women a truly informed choice. China takes it to another level by eliminating the pretense of choice.

These are not only our fellow image-bearers who are victims of horrible injustice in China, but some are our sisters and brothers in Christ. Feng and Deng are both followers of Christ, Fu told the subcommittee. Zhang Kai, a young Christian lawyer, has agreed to take on Feng’s case, Fu said.

At the same hearing, another Christian, Guo Yanling, shared about the forced abortion she underwent in 1995 when her unborn son was eight months old. You may read the written testimony describing what happened to her here. Be forewarned, it is hard to read and likely is not for everyone. Recognize, however, something similar has happened millions of times in China.

The devastation to China’s people, especially its women, is difficult to fathom. Many people believe the forced abortion program is one reason China has nearly 56 percent of the world’s female suicides. The fathers, who are unable to protect their wives and babies, also suffer.

As followers of Christ, may we not turn blind eyes to our suffering sisters and brothers or our suffering fellow image-bearers. May we pray for them and long for as much justice as possible in this lifetime in China – recognizing God can move to provide it while also acknowledging true justice will arrive only with the unveiling of His eternal kingdom. And may we pray for the light of the gospel to chase the darkness out of the lives of these who have suffered such violence at the hand of their government.