CHINA CRACKS DOWN ON FITNESS, MORALITY

China demands attention because it is the world's most populous country, because it produces low-cost consumer goods in vast quantities, because it has or is developing the most military might of any nation and because anything it does is shrouded in a veil that most Westerners find hard to penetrate.

Now comes another reason to be glad you're not Chinese:

Namely, thousands of arrests of government officials whose only crime is to be associated with Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, Falun Fofa or Falun Bhudda Law. This group, like much of what goes on in China, isn't an organization that has instant name recognition. It is loosely described as a "meditation" society, one that sets high standards for mental and physical fitness and morality. The group's most visible activity is a series of five exercises to improve body and mind.

Does this sound bad?

It does to the Chinese government, which routinely uses force to quell any group considered to be even a potential threat to Beijing.

Listening to adherent of Falun Gong being interviewed on TV or reading about the group's aims and activities in newspapers and magazines, most Americans would be puzzled by the Chinese government's harsh actions, which started with an outright ban.

The Chinese leaders say Falun Gong has political ambitions. Members who have been detained are being forced to read Community Party literature and to sign guarantees that they would leave the sect.

For those of us in a free society, it is hard to grasp the thinking of a powerful Chinese government which uses a club to swat gnats.

The founder of Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi -- who looks like a Wall Street stockbroker or high school principal, now lives in the United States. The Chinese government would like to get its hands on him. Fortunately, he is protected by U.S. laws and constitutional guarantees.

Therein is a good lesson in freedom.

And a sad lesson it is to know that nearly a quarter of the world's population is subject to a regime that is so totalitarian that it cannot suffer a relative handful of individuals who say their only aim is physical and moral fitness.