In September 2024, a notable Chinese economist vanished after voicing concerns about the declining state of China’s economy. Meanwhile, in mid-December, a Tibetan village chief tragically died just three days after being released from prison for promoting the preservation of the Tibetan language—a charge deemed an affront to the state. These incidents highlight a broader pattern of human rights violations under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as revealed by Human Rights Watch in its 2025 World Report.
Maya Wang, the associate director at Human Rights Watch, emphasised, “From freedom of expression to religious freedoms, the Chinese government has kept a chokehold over the country throughout 2024.” The report outlines the CCP’s increasing repression, including abusive laws to imprison dissenters and enforce tyrannical censorship, particularly in economic matters that affect public understanding.
Amidst international outcry against human rights violations, new sanctions and legislative measures have been put into place. The United States’ Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act remains a significant response as advocates strive to expose the CCP’s abuses and rally supportive nations to denounce Beijing’s mistreatment. Restrictions now criminalise previously accepted discussions, complicating the flow of vital information.
The report further reveals the relentless targeting of religious congregations that refuse CCP oversight, with leaders facing severe consequences, such as five-year prison sentences for alleged criminal activities. The overarching trend since Xi Jinping’s 2016 directive for the Sinicisation of religions underscores an aggressive push towards compliance with party ideologies.
Within Tibet, arbitrary detentions of individuals for minor offenses, like unfriendly online posts, have surged. Educational institutions focusing on native Tibetan language and culture have been shuttered, while peaceful protests against infrastructure projects threatening monasteries have resulted in mass detentions of locals and monks.
In Xinjiang, the situation remains dire, with human rights groups cataloguing heinous violations, including mass detentions and cultural erasure of Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims. In September 2024, several nations renewed their insistence for China to release unjustly detained individuals and engage in dialogue over human rights practices.
The 2025 World Report by Human Rights Watch outlines escalating human rights abuses in China, with particular focus on freedom of expression and religious repression. Key incidents include the disappearance of a critical economist and the death of a Tibetan leader post-incarceration. The report underscores that the CCP’s tightening grip on dissent has prompted international condemnation and new sanctions.
The CCP’s rampant human rights abuses continue to manifest across various sectors, as documented by Human Rights Watch. Economic dissent, religious suppression, and regional discrimination against Tibetans and Uyghurs illustrate a sinister trend of oppression. Though the international community expresses solidarity and condemns these actions, the CCP maintains an iron grip on information and dissent, underlining the urgent need for reform and accountability.
Original Source: ipdefenseforum.com
