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Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the national work conference on religious affairs in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

China tightens control of religion, with focus on national security

  • In the first national religious work conference since 2016, President Xi Jinping warns that religious activities must stay within the law
  • Further strengthening of online controls on religious affairs were also flagged during the two-day conference in Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping has flagged a further tightening of control on religion, in a speech at a national religious work conference held in Beijing late last week.

Xi said China would further promote “sinicisation of religion”, with a focus on strengthening control of online religious affairs. He emphasised that religious activities must be conducted within the boundary of the law, according to official Xinhua news agency.

“Religious activities should be carried out within the scope stipulated by laws and regulations … and should not interfere with educational, judicial and administrative affairs as well as social life,” Xi said.

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The conference, attended by the country’s top leadership, was the first since 2016 and will set the parameters on China’s religious affairs and their regulation over the next few years, according to experts.

It took place against a backdrop of widespread accusations of repressive control on Muslims and Christians in China, as well as the country’s increasingly tight supervision over religions.

Last month China was among several nations designated by the United States as “countries of particular concern” for violations of religious freedom.

In his speech to the conference, Xi said the Communist Party’s policy on freedom of religious belief must be “completely, accurately and comprehensively” implemented, and religions must adapt to the fact that China is a socialist country.

“China must adhere to the direction of the sinicisation of religion, insist on uniting the masses of religious believers around the party and the government,” he said.

Religion has been on a tight leash in China since the introduction in 2015 of the sinicisation process, which has brought faith under strict party control with a requirement to align with traditional Chinese culture and reject foreign influence.

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Xi highlighted the importance of adopting a holistic view of national security in religious work, and of “strengthening the management of online religious affairs” – a step up from a 2018 regulation that restricted the distribution of religious information online.

He also stressed that clergy should improve self-education and exercise self-discipline, and keep a close eye on the congregations they managed.

“It is necessary to improve the democratic supervision of religious leaders, and push for the rule of law in religious work, and carry out in-depth publicity and education about the rule of law,” Xi said.

Measures for the administration of religious personnel were introduced in February by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, which ordered clergy to embrace the leadership of the Communist Party.

China orders clergy to toe Communist Party and socialist line

The measures stipulated that religious workers could not accept overseas appointments or engage in religious activities that would jeopardise China’s national security. They must also comply with a rigorous registration process and could only serve one congregation at a time.

Xiong Kunxin, a professor of ethnic studies at Minzu University in Beijing, said it was noteworthy that the conference put special emphasis on strengthening the rule of law in the management of online religious affairs, and religious practitioners would be disciplined for inappropriate online commentary.

“People engaged in religious activities need to follow the same rules just like any ordinary citizens,” Xiong said.

“They must abide by the [same] rules and regulations for their online activities, comments and behaviour, and can face punishment for any activities that are harmful to national unity.”

Additional reporting by Luna Sun

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