Washington: A United States congressional panel has been warned that China’s growing pressure on religious communities is not only a human rights problem but also a threat to American national security.

The warning came during a hearing of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, where former ambassador for international religious freedom Sam Brownback said the United States must treat China’s actions as a serious strategic concern. He noted that reports show ten Catholic bishops remain detained in China and said the Chinese government has faced no meaningful penalty for its long record of abuses.

Brownback urged the Trump administration to take stronger action, arguing that the Chinese Communist Party continues to target Christians, Muslims, and other faith groups with increasing intensity.

Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, described how his family in Texas was surrounded in 2020 by people he believes were linked to the Chinese Communist Party. He said they threatened his family to force him to stop his work defending religious communities in China.

Grace Jin Drexel also shared emotional testimony about her father, Pastor Jin, who has been blocked from leaving China for more than seven years and is now detained. She said his church had grown to serve tens of thousands of people before authorities shut it down. She added that she herself has been followed and threatened in the United States because of her advocacy.

Lawmakers from both political parties expressed concern. They noted that China has expanded its pressure on religious groups beyond its borders, affecting Chinese communities and advocates even inside the United States.

Representative Jim McGovern said the United States must protect religious freedom at home if it wants to speak with authority abroad. He pointed to fear among migrant communities during immigration enforcement efforts and said their ability to worship freely must also be defended.

Witnesses urged the United States not to remain silent. They said silence would signal weakness and allow further violations. They called for targeted action to support detained faith leaders and to confront China’s widening efforts to control religion.