Opinion | With a historic pact, the Vatican continues its battle with Beijing for Chinese hearts and minds

A recent agreement between Beijing and the Vatican on the ordination of bishops may mark an end to decades of estrangement between the communist leadership and the Catholic Church. Although the development does not suggest any relaxation of control over the faith or commitment to religious freedom in the world’s last major communist-ruled nation, both sides stand to gain from the historic deal.

For Beijing, the agreement is a remarkable coup against Taipei and could pave the way for the Vatican to switch diplomatic recognition. The Vatican City is the only country in Europe with official ties with Taiwan, and a diplomatic shift might trigger a domino effect on the handful of Catholic-dominant Latin American nations that maintain relations with the self-ruled island.

China has stepped up efforts to restrict Taiwan’s international space after independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen came to office in May 2016. The island has since lost five diplomatic allies and now has formal ties with only 17 small nations.

The major achievement of the September 22 deal is that it facilitates a process of dialogue to name new bishops, and also regularises the status of seven bishops who were appointed by Beijing and had been excommunicated by the Vatican. Effectively, the Vatican now leads both the state-run and the underground Catholic churches in China.