Talks between the U.S. and China were scheduled to begin Thursday in Washington, D.C. after a two-year hiatus.

Experts say the Obama administration's goal for the two-day talks is to push China to treat its citizens better without angering the communist country that remains vital to U.S. interests.

Recently, Chinese police detained an underground Christian pastor and broke up worship services in a city park.

Secret government campaigns to quiet human rights attorneys practicing in China have also taken place.

How do these crackdowns on Christians and human rights lawyers threaten the fabric of China's civil society?

Gordon Change, a columnist with Forbes.com who lived in China for two decades, joined CBN News' George Thomas to discuss the potential of wider crackdowns in the communist state, the anniversary of Tiananmen Square, and how the Obama administration should react to China's human rights issues.

Click play to watch the interview.