Why Is China So Fearful?

Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin returned home to cheers and camera flashes after spending a week in Hong Kong, where she garnered international attention of major media for her attempt, ultimately unsuccessful, to attend the Miss World Finals in Sanya, China. Miss Lin, China born and a Canadian citizen likely surprised the security personnel in China when she went public with their threats against her father in China to silence her human rights advocacy. They wouldn’t have expected international headlines when they intimidated him into pressuring his daughter to abandon her advocacy. Miss Lin, a Falun Gong practitioner who followings the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance, was denied a visa by the Chinese government and consequently prohibited from attending the Miss World Finals. She has spoken out about the persecution of Falun Gong in China that the Chinese regime banned in 1999 because of its popularity, and spoken out publicly against the Communist Party’s atrocities. Anastasia Lin campaigned for her crown on a platform of religious freedom and human rights. Unfortunately the government uses visas and family members as leverage to silence people outside China. Miss Lin believes if you stick to what you believe is right, eventually change will come. She was offered to compete in the 2016 competition. Since we do so much business with China, I think it’s important for Montanans to know the actions of the Chinese government.

– Katherine Combes

Kalispell, MT